Coffee v. Henry

OPALA, J.,

with whom WINCHESTER, J., joins, dissenting

¶1 I write separately from others to explain why I join the dissent's analysis of the law that governs this original proceeding.

¶12 An appropriation is a legislative act of allocating money to an agency in a sum certain. A legislative direction that limits the quantum of an agency's authority to spend money out of its appropriation for certain authorized categories is not an appropriation. It is rather an allocation formula for use of appropriated money by limiting the amount of an agency's spending for approved categories. An allocation of…