National Archives to see dip in its budget next year

The National Archives and Records Administration is prepared for a slight dip in its budget for fiscal 2013, but its funding for services provided to other federal agencies will remain at high levels for the second year in the row.

Overall, the president requested $372 million in discretionary funds for NARA, down from $373 million in the current year.

The amount dedicated to agency services will be maintained at $85 million for the second year in a row, up from $55 million in fiscal 2011.

Those services include records management, declassification processing for dated national security information, oversight of classified and controlled information, improvements in Freedom of Information Act administration, electronic records management for the Electronic Records Archive.

The electronic archive was terminated in fiscal 2012, and unspent monies are being transferred to the fiscal 2013 account, the budget document stated.

David Ferriero, archivist of the United States, said the agency agreed to the budget reduction to be responsive to the government’s fiscal situation.

“Our budget provides a clear view of agency activities and reflects the austere budget environment faced by all Federal agencies,” Ferriero said in a Feb. 14 statement.. “Our request demonstrates our resolve to deliver our important mission to the American public without increasing our spending.”

The agency will be able to maintain its customer services and core services at the same level, despite the cut, because of efficiency improvements made two years ago in a restructuring, he said.

“In FY 2011, we restructured the agency to focus on delivering core services to customer segments, including the public,” he said. “Our new organizational structure and our renewed focus on our customers will allow us to squeeze even more value out of the taxpayer dollars that we are entrusted with.”

One account that is being reduced is for restorations and repairs of NARA buildings, which is budgeted at $8 million for fiscal 2013, a 12 percent reduction.