Program D: Consumer Information

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Program D: Consumer Information

Program Authorization: R.S. 36:4; 36:301; 51:1252; Act 624 of 1993

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

It is the mission of the Consumer Information Program to provide information on the tourist assets of Louisiana to potential visitors. The vast majority of this information is provided by mail. This is a key component of the state's tourism marketing effort. The goal of this program is to respond to these requests as quickly and as efficiently as possible. There is only one activity in this program, Consumer Information.

OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

1. In FY 1998-99, the Consumer Information Services Program will increase tourism in Louisiana through the distribution of timely, accurate and well prepared travel information with an average turn around time of two weeks from receipt of inquiry to delivery of fulfillment materials to inquirers both inside and outside the United States.

RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM

SOURCE OF FUNDING

This program is funded with Fees and Self-generated Revenues which are derived from the Louisiana Tourism Promotion District. Act 1038 of the 1990 Regular Session of the Legislature created the Louisiana Tourism Promotion District which receives 3/100 of 1 cent of the sales and use tax. These proceeds are then transferred to the Office of Tourism for out-of-state advertising, and promoting tourism in Louisiana.

ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL FUND	TOTAL	T.O.	DESCRIPTION

$0	$1,587,646	9	ACT 18 FISCAL YEAR 1997-1998

			BA-7 TRANSACTIONS:
$0	$21,550	0	Carryforward for a contract with Plog Research, Inc. in Reseda, California to complete a computer table run of the American Traveler Survey's results from 1996 and analyzing Louisiana's imagery within specified marketing regions

$0	$1,609,196	9	EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET - December 16, 1997

$0	($21,550)	0	Nonrecurring carryforward for a contract with Plog Research, Inc. in Reseda, California to complete a computer table run of the American Traveler Survey's results from 1996 and analyzing Louisiana's imagery within specified marketing regions
$0	$1,439	0	Annualization of 1997 -'98 Merit Pay Adjustment(s)
$0	$4,399	0	1998 -'99 Merit Pay Adjustment(s)
$0	($4,808)	0	Attrition Adjustment(s)
$0	($1,281)	0	Retirement Rate Adjustment(s)
$0	($630)	0	Reduction(s) in various Expenditure Categories; Including Reductions to fully fund Salaries
$0	$35,088	0	Workload - Tourism Promotion Fund cap was increased to $16,000,000. With more advertising, there will be more inquiries to respond to. These funds are for the anticipated increased postage need.
$0	$5,093	0	Technical Adjustment to correctly align the funding for the salary of one position which is located in the Consumer Information Services Program. These funds were transferred from the Marketing Program.

$0	$1,626,946	9	TOTAL RECOMMENDED

$0	$17,750	0	DIFFERENCE (TOTAL RECOMMENDED AND EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET)

The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 101.1% of the existing operating budget. It represents 99.6% of the total request ($1,633,665) for this program. The 1.1% increase above the existing operating budget is due to providing funds for increase postage expenses due to the cap being lifted to $16,000,000 which increases funding for out-of-state advertising; annualization of merit pay, new merit pay, and the technical adjustment to correctly align funding for one position in this program (the funds are a technical transfer from the Marketing Program.)

The Total Recommended amount above includes $35,088 of Supplementary Recommendations of which $0 is State General Fund for increased postage expenses due to an increase in funding for out-of-state advertising due to the cap for total Office funding being increased to $16,000,000. Funding of this Supplementary Recommendation is dependent upon renewal of the current sales tax rate of 3% on the sales tax suspension of exemptions base.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

This program does not have any funding for Professional Services in Fiscal Year 1998-1999.

OTHER CHARGES

$56,936		Prison Enterprises Mail-Out Program - the contract provides for inmate labor to stuff the consumer inquiry fulfillment packets, sort by zip code and deliver to the post office. With over one million inquiries annually, this contract is critical to servicing the inquiries. These services are provided by Elayn Hunt Correctional Center
$246,050		Research contracts - These contracts allow the Office of Tourism to measure the effectiveness of its advertising and marketing programs. These contracts generate data which allow the office to evaluate the cost per inquiry, effectiveness of individual media in the translation of the tourism message and feedback from survey of travelers. These research endeavors assist the Office of Tourism and its advertising agency in the placement of media and tailoring marketing messages so that they will be most effective.

$302,986		TOTAL OTHER CHARGES

ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS

This program does not have any funding for Acquisitions and Major Repairs in Fiscal Year 1998-1999.

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