Summary: In presenting the GAO budget request for fiscal year (FY) 1982, the Acting Comptroller General pointed out that GAO needs the requested funds to sustain its effective assistance to Congress when it considers legislation and oversees the Federal Government's operations. Although the workload for FY 1981 has increased and will increase further in 1982, GAO is requesting no increase over staff levels requested to meet workload requirements of 2 years ago. Despite every effort to cut costs, funding constraints of the past several years have eroded the coverge GAO has been able to carry out under its basic statutory responsibilities. Continuing this trend can only make it more difficult for Congress to carry out its legislative, funding, and oversight responsibilities. Funds provided to GAO are returned many times over. Over the past 4 years, congressional and agency actions on GAO recommendations saved $20 for each dollar appropriated to GAO with direct, quantifiable savings. The FY 1982 appropriation request is for the amount needed to fund the staff years required to meet GAO responsibilities for the coming year. The requested appropriation includes increases over FY 1981 levels to meet mandatory pay increases and to provide funds for the authorized staff years required by increased GAO workload. About 55 percent of the $22 million-increase on the FY 1982 budget request from the estimated 1981 obligations is the result of either mandatory cost increases that must be absorbed or inflation.
