In response to questions about his post-election future, Rossotti told IRS employees in an internal memo that he won't resign with the change of administration.

"Let me clarify one point about my own situation since I have received many questions about it," Rossotti wrote in the memo. "One of the provisions of the RRA (Reform and Restructuring Act) was to make the IRS Commissioner position a five-year fixed term. In my case this term continues through November of 2002, so I will not be resigning with the change of administration."

In the memo, Rossotti also outlined the agency's focus for next year, following the news that Congress had increased the agency's budget for fiscal 2001 by $643 million to $8.715 billion.

"This budget funds 99 percent of the President's request and will allow us to move forward with nearly all of the plans we have been carefully preparing to modernize the IRS and to improve the ability to deliver on all aspects of our mission," he said.

Rossotti noted that the budget increase will enable the IRS to build up its staffing level by the equivalent of more than 2,000 full-time staff, to complete its organizational modernization program, and fund the buildup of its technology modernization program.

-- SmartPros News Staff

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