(a) The legislature has the responsibility to:
(1) appropriate money for the maintenance and operational expenses of the department;
(2) determine the number of employees of the department; and
(3) set the amount of compensation of all employees of the department, including the director, and the members of the commission.
(b) The comptroller shall contract for equipment and supplies, including seals and number plates, required by law in the administration of the registration of vehicles and in the operation of the department.
(c) All money authorized to be appropriated in accordance with this section for the operation of the department and the purchase of equipment shall be appropriated from the state highway fund. The commission shall use the amount remaining in the fund for the furtherance of public road construction and for establishing a system of state highways.