78 



Current Status — Funding, Personnel, Facilities 



Funding 



Although approprialions lo ARS increased by 47 percent between 1982 arxl 1991. the 

 real purchasing power increased only 7 percent because of an inflation of almost 37 

 percent over the same period. 



Total dollar levels required for conducting research projects have increased. The 1991 

 figure is 67 percent higher. $250,000 per scientist year. Thus, the ARS budget 

 currently supports fewer career scientists and research projects than in previous years. 



There has been little change in the balance of funding between ARS research objec- 

 tives, although significant changes in research direction have been made within 

 objectives. ARS continues lo respond to user expectations and be accountable for 

 appropriations. 



Personnel 



ARS is at its currently authorized personnel ceiling of 8.200 full lime equivalents, 

 including about 2.600 permanent and temporary scientists. The ceiling has changed 

 little since 1986. and no significant future changes are expected. 



Through normal attrition. ARS expects to turn over about 36 percent — 780 

 positions — of its permanent scientist workforce in the next 6 years. ARS must 

 redeploy these positions wisely. 



ARS disciplinary structure is already changing to meet the new demands of emerging 

 programs and science. One means has been an increase in postdoctoral appointments 

 in 1991 to 14 percent of the total ARS scientist workforce, from 7 percent in 1986 and 

 I percent in 1982. 



Facilities 



A forward-planning program of facilities renovation and modernization (R&M) to meet the 

 challenge of an aging ARS infrastructure has been underway for several years. Assessment 

 of the current situation is as follows: 



ARS° real property inventory includes nearly 3.000 separate buildings and facilities 

 that comprise about 1 2 million square feet of floor space. The current replacement 

 value of these and other capital improvements is about S 1 .7 billion. 



A significant pan of this real property needs renovation or replacement to adapt to 

 safely, health, and other regulatory code requirements and to meet technical demands 

 of future research programs. 



From 1987 to 1990. ARS allocated about SI06 million in base program and special 

 appropriated funds lo R&M (about S26.S million per year). 



Current plans for 1992 lo 1998 project a need lo double annual expenditures for 

 facility modernization. 



ARS facility improvement priorities will be driven by program needs. 



