Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland today instructed the Department of Administrative Services to extend the temporary freeze on certain state meal-related expenditures until May 4, 2007.
Strickland extended the freeze, in part, to assess the impact a more restrictive meal expenditures policy would have on state government. The freeze will not apply to meal expenditures that are part of a registration fee or paid directly by a participant, as long as it complies with Executive Order 2007-01S: “Establishing New Ethics Requirements.”
“I am deeply concerned about the amount the state spent on food expenditures in recent years, especially when our state dollars are so stretched,” Strickland said. “My administration is continuing to evaluate the spending and develop more wise and cost-effective standards in determining what meal purchases are necessary for state business."
The freeze applies to all agencies, boards and commissions in their purchases of meals for meetings, seminars or conventions held for official state business.
Strickland implemented the spending freeze on March 6, after an Office of Budget and Management review found that approximately $3.9 million was spent in Fiscal Year 2006 and Fiscal Year 2007 on meal-related expenditures.
Legislative, judicial and elected offices are exempt from the freeze. Agencies may seek waivers from OBM, which are contingent upon review.
DAS and OBM will continue working together to develop guidance to ensure that the food spending by all state agencies, boards and commissions is appropriate and to develop a consistent application of guidelines.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Directors and Fiscal Officers of Agencies, Boards and Commissions
FROM: Hugh Quill, Director
SUBJECT: Meal Expenditure Freeze Extension (Objects 293-01 and 298-20)
DATE: April 5, 2007
Governor Strickland has instructed the Department of Administrative Services to extend the temporary freeze on certain meal-related expenditures until May 4, 2007, which may be amended as circumstances warrant. The governor is extending the freeze, in part, to continue to assess the impact a more restrictive meal expenditure policy would have on state government. Legislative, judicial and elected offices are exempt from this freeze.
During the freeze, the Department of Administrative Services will continue to work with the Office of Budget and Management to develop clear guidance to ensure that the expenditures of state agencies, boards and commissions are appropriate and that the guidelines are consistently applied.
Any meal expenditure that is part of a registration fee or paid directly by the participant is acceptable if it complies with Executive Order 2007-01S Establishing New Ethics Requirements.
The freeze is not intended to discourage interaction or discourse in furtherance of the purpose and mission of the organization. During the freeze period, agencies are only to discontinue the purchase of food items for meetings and should consider alternatives (for example, brown bag lunch).
If a food purchase is believed to be essential to an agency, board or commission’s direct mandate or mission, they may seek a waiver from the Office of Budget and Management. Such requests are to be sent via e-mail to Dawn Gatterdam, Acting State Accounting Administrator (Dawn.Gatterdam@obm.state.oh.us) and Judy Johnson, Accounting Review and Release Supervisor (Judy.Johnson@obm.state.oh.us).
While other food-related objects of expense (293-02 and 293-03) are not subject to this freeze, agencies must maintain compliance with the existing travel rule (OBM Travel Policy).
Should you have any questions regarding this process, please contact Greg Schultz, Policy Coordinator (Greg.Schultz@das.state.oh.us). Your cooperation with this process is appreciated.