We are providing information about the implementation of our new agency budget structure through myth-busting and sharing facts that help us all learn together. 

Myth #3: If employees whose salary is funded from different salaries and expense budget line items attend training, the training must be multi-funded.
 
Fact #3: Circumstances around the offered training and the intended audience will determine the appropriate source of funding. 

For instance, training at Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers are for the benefit of Law Enforcement and Investigation employees. However, the agency also sends non-LEI employees to become reserve law enforcement officers. Because the training is intended for LEI as the main audience, only the National Forest System S&E budget line item would fund this training, regardless of which employees attend.  

Another example would be ASC Budget and Finance hosting an Appropriations Law training for its employees, whose salaries are funded from Forest Service Operations S&E. The training is intended to benefit ASC Budget and Finance staff and should be funded by FSSE. If those employees do not fill the training, the open seats are offered to other agency employees, regardless of how their salary is funded.  
 
There are other examples where it may be appropriate to multi-fund training. A regional retirement training would be an example where multiple S&E budget line items are used to pay for the training contract. When the intended audience is employees whose salaries are funded by different S&E budget line items, it could be appropriate to pay for the training using multiple S&E budget line items.  

For more detailed information about current budget operations and FAQs, you can visit FY2021 Appropriated Budget Structure (internal site) or contact your local budget officer.

Myth vs. Fact: Salaries and expenses