Activities of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

GAO discussed the various actions that could improve the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms' (BATF) efficiency and minimize the detrimental effects of resource trade-offs. GAO noted that: (1) the BATF 1992 funding request of $317 million reflected an increase that was primarily targeted for law enforcement; (2) the fiscal year (FY) 1992 budget request would cut the alcohol program by $16 million and 258 staff years, which would result in 2,000 fewer inspections; (3) the FY 1992 budget reduced the firearms programs by $634,000 and 9 staff years, which would result in about 600 fewer firearms inspections; (4) BATF budgeted for its tobacco and explosives programs to receive additional funds; (5) law enforcement activities were authorized 2,649 staff years and $220.5 million in FY 1991, and BATF requested 2,691 staff years and $241 million for FY 1992; (6) reductions in the BATF presence in the alcohol industry could put alcohol excise tax revenues at risk; (7) tax compliance inspectors were not required to have accounting backgrounds; and (8) BATF is considering requiring inspectors to have 6 credit hours of college-level accounting, but GAO believes that 12 credit hours would be more appropriate.