4439: GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION (2-27-09) - FY 2009-10 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BUDGET

FY 2009-10 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BUDGET H.B. 4439: GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION

House Bill 4439 (as introduced)
Committee: Appropriations

Changes from FY 2008-09 Year-to-Date:
1. Elimination of Wetlands Program. The Governor recommended the elimination of the Wetlands Program, after which the Army Corps of Engineers would assume oversight responsibility of Michigan's wetlands. 30.0 FTEs are also removed.	(4,000,000)
2. Reduction in State Match for State Revolving Fund. The Governor removed all General Fund support for the State Match to Federal capitalization dollars for the Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund.	(2,062,500)
3. Environmental Cleanup Fund Shift. The Governor recommended a fund shift that replaced a $2.0 million General Fund reduction with restricted funds. The funding would be available due to fund shifts included in boilerplate language that move money to the Environmental Protection Fund, which is appropriated to support cleanup projects.	0
4. Waste and Hazardous Materials Fund Shift. The Governor replaced a $1,904,500 General Fund reduction in this unit with restricted funds.	0
5. General Fund Reductions. The Governor reduced General Fund support for a number of programs throughout the budget, including air quality programs such as asbestos, education and outreach, and information technology. Support for conference and workshops for compliance assistance were reduced, as was the wastewater operator certification and training program. General Fund for ambient water quality monitoring, on-site wastewater, radiological protection, and various other programs was reduced.	(3,031,600)
6. Electronic Recycling Program. The Governor added restricted fund appropriations for the new Electronic Recycling program that was enacted in 2008.	245,000
7. Eliminate Local Public Health Interdepartmental Grant. The Governor recommended removing the IDG received from the Department of Community Health. Instead, DCH would distribute the grants with no change to grant levels.	(10,472,500)
8. Internal Audit. In completion of the transfer of internal audit functions to the Department of Management and Budget, the budget transferred funding for the services to DMB.	(228,500)
9. Transfer of RETAP. The Governor transferred funding for the Retired Engineers Technical Assistance Program to DELEG, pursuant to the creation of that department.	(1,474,300)
10. Reductions in Revenue. The budget included reductions to reflect a decline in revenue from Federal and restricted sources. Reductions include Federal Superfund, aquifer protection, and scrap tires appropriations.	(2,875,800)
11. Annualization of EO 2008-21 Reductions. The budget included additional General Fund reductions to reflect the full-year cost of cuts made in Executive Order 2008-21.	(221,200)
12. Economic Adjustments. The budget made adjustments for rent, building occupancy charges, salaries and wages, retirement benefits, workers' compensation, and utilities.	2,833,600
Total Changes	($21,734,700)
FY 2009-10 Governor's Recommendation	$341,302,000

FY 2009-10 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BUDGET BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS

Changes from FY 2008-09 Year to Date:

1. Section Removed. The Governor removed language regarding a hiring freeze, retention of reports, MI Youth Conservation Council, information technology work projects, a prohibition on disciplinary action, attendance at training seminars, computer system replacement, posting of expenditures, Muskrat Lake, core samples research, cleanup site criteria, site list of new cleanup projects, repayment to the Refined Petroleum Fund, LUST advisory workgroup, draft memoranda for cleanup actions, Hazardous Waste Site Review Board, contaminated lake and river sediment appropriations, Federal 319 grant, scrap tire suppression, real-time water quality monitoring, and a grant to the Village of Chesaning.

2. Reports Removed. The Governor removed reports on restricted fund balances, grants and loans, fine and penalty collections, policy changed by legislation, FOIA requests, Great Lakes Water Quality bond, and the NPDES Fund.

3. Limitation on Travel. The Governor maintained the restrictions on out-of-state travel and the report, but removed a specification that the State Budget Director may grant exceptions. (Sec. 215)

4. Restricted Fund Appropriations. The Governor revised language requiring a cost allocation plan for administrative expenses to include the Criminal investigations unit and removed the annual report. (Sec. 219)

5. Contingency Funds. The Governor increased private contingency fund authorization from $100,000 to $500,000. (Sec. 225)

6. Cleanup and Redevelopment Trust Fund Transfer. The Governor included language to appropriate $1.0 million from the Cleanup and Redevelopment Trust Fund to the Environmental Protection Fund. (Sec. 702)

7. Community Pollution Prevention Fund Transfer. The Governor included language to appropriate $1.0 million from the Community Pollution Prevention Fund to the Environmental Protection Fund. (Sec. 703)

8. Solid Water Perpetual Care Account Transfer. The Governor included language to appropriate $500,000 from the Solid Waste Perpetual Care account to the Solid Waste Management Fund staff account. (Sec. 801)

Date Completed: 2-27-09 Fiscal Analyst: Jessica Runnels Bill Analysis @ http://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations. hideq_gr.doc