Department of Administrative Services Budget Division

The application was designed to be viewed at a resolution of 1240x1068. A setting smaller than this might result in additional vertical or horizontal scrolling.

What does “Hide Menu” mean?

Clicking on Hide Menu will hide the left menu from view. This could help make more to the screen visible, thus reducing the amount of horizontal scrolling.

What does “Show Menu” mean?

Clicking on Show Menu will bring the left menu back into view. This could increase the amount of horizontal scrolling needed to see data on the screen.

When is the Budget Submission due?

September 15, 2008.

What does the blue question mark mean?

Clicking on the blue question mark will bring up step-by-step instructions. Included in this instruction will be Budget expectations.

I don’t have access to certain areas. How can I tell what my access should be?

If you hover your mouse pointer over your ID in the top right corner of the screen, your assigned Role will be displayed. Provide this information to your Budget Analyst to determine if this access grants you the level of access that you expect.

Does the application automatically save my data?

No, you make sure to save your data often. You will receive a warning if you try to leave an area and data has not been saved.

Can I see the information entered during the last Budget?

No, the program used during the last budget cycle is no longer available. Future budgets prepared using this application will be available for reference.

What is an Issue?

An Issue is a set of related activities that drive a change in an Agency’s base appropriations.

Can I attach files to my submission?

Yes. Files may be attached on any narrative screen.

Is there a limit to how big an attachment can be?

Yes. A single attachment will be limited to 25MB.

Can any type of file be attached?

Yes, but video files are likely too large to be practical.

Will I be limited to how many attachments I include in the budget request?

No.

Can an attachment to a Narrative be used to replace the Narrative itself?

No, you still need to have some narrative entered.

Is the new Budget System accessible for agencies, like Military, that have their own security and firewall systems?

Yes. All that is required is access the budget system is access to the Internet.

Is the new System Program Narrative more expansive on the number of characters allowed than the old System?

There are two editors and a number of tabs for each Narrative section.

If switching from Agency Narrative to Division or Program Narrative, is there a prompt to let you know you should Save, or that you will lose data if you haven’t Saved?

No, not in a narrative section. This is a limitation of the application. You need to remember to Save often.

Can you put external web links in Narratives?

Yes, but you shouldn’t let your Narrative simply be the direction to the link.

Is previous Narrative history going to be available from the old Budget System?

No.

Are 309 Taskforce Project Narratives going to be carried over to the new System?

Budget will work with agencies to retrieving prior budget cycles 309 Project narratives.

Will the new System print in HTML or PDF formats?

Yes, both.

Will it be necessary to have a Class Code for each employee entered in the System?

Yes, this requirement has not changed.

Can more than one Browser session be opened by the same User at the same time?

Yes, but two different Users cannot access the same data set at the same time.

What is the “Copy Current Year Salary” Button for?

Using this button copies the salary figures from the Current Year column into the “Est Salary” column.

Will the Budget Division upload FY 2008-09 budget data if the Agency has already entered into NIS via a Budget Status Report?

Yes, at the request of the agency. Please note that data entered on NIS for the Budget Status Report must be at the subprogram level.

Will optional Object Codes roll up to Major Account Category totals?

Yes.

Are Issues prepared at the Program or Subprogram level?

Issues are prepared at the Subprogram level.

Are Issues used for budget continuation requests or adjusted budget requests?

There is no longer a requirement to enter a continuation and adjusted budget. All changes from the base year will be identified by Issues.

Would increased utility costs be an example of an Issue?

Yes.

Do the Issue screens only reflect changes to the base?

Yes.

Can you enter negative numbers as part of an Issue?

Yes. This would represent a reduction in the base year appropriation.

Can different Users work on the same Issue if they are in different Programs?

No, because the system will lock the Issue once a user enters EDIT mode.

Will the new Budget System automatically calculate Employee Benefit amounts like Retirement and Health Insurance, based on the new DAS rates?

No, agencies will need to use the new rates to calculate these Benefit costs for each employee, based on individual circumstances and enter these amounts.

Is there a specific screen showing Agency Budget totals if they have no Issues?

This is not screen that will show this information. A report will need to be run. The reports will reflect no changes from the base year for the new biennium fiscal years.

How do you distinguish between one-time costs and continuation costs on the IT Project screens?

The IT project screen identifies the IT project and automatically generates an IT Issue. But you have to separately enter the costs by Object Code in the IT Issue.

Will there be a warning if you attempt to leave a screen without saving?

No, you will not be warned if you move from one screen to another.

Is there a timeout feature for the new System sessions?

Yes, the System will log you out after 30 minutes of inactivity. You will receive a warning when 5 minutes are left. If you perform any action that updates the screen (e.g. SAVE or change to different screen,) the 30 minute timer will restart.

If you get automatically logged out for inactivity on the System, will the System Save your data first?

No, it will not automatically Save your data. Any data entered after your last Save will be lost.

If an Agency budget is just a continuation of the base year budget, do they need to enter an Issue?

No, but the Agency needs to be sure the base year amounts accurately reflect the budget they can support in the next biennium.