Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment's interim appropriation request totals $68,011,000. This amount includes $62,533,000 in operations and maintenance funding and $5,478,000 for capital expenditures.

As the Members are aware, the department has not yet had the opportunity to prepare a full business plan. The full business plan will be prepared for consideration by the Members of this Assembly in May and early June.

The information being presented is limited to support for ongoing departmental activities as well as adjustments for forced growth that will occur during the period of the interim allocation. Limited monies for activities that require additional expenditures in the early portion of the year and previously approved budget adjustments have also been included in the request.

Members of this Assembly are all aware that we are faced with some very difficult choices during this initial capital budgeting process. This has certainly been true for both operations and maintenance as well as capital activity in our department. As a result, many activities that we may have liked to undertake are now not possible. However, we are confident that the plan that is being presented addresses the areas of greatest priority.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed interim appropriation for the department. I will be pleased to answer questions that the Members might have on the appropriation request.