FY 2022-23 NATURAL RESOURCES BUDGET                              S. B.839 (S-2): SENATE APPROPRIATIONS REC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senate Bill 839 (S-2 as reported)                           Throughout this document Senate means Appropriations Committee.

Committee:  Appropriations

 

 

 

CHANGES FROM

FY 2021-22 YEAR-TO-DATE

FULL-TIME EQUATED (FTE) CLASSIFIED POSITIONS/FUNDING SOURCE

FY 2021-22

YEAR-TO-DATE*

FY 2022-23

SEN. FULL COMM.

AMOUNT

PERCENT

FTE Positions..............................................................

               2,354.9

               2,354.9

                      0.0

            0.0 

GROSS..........................................................................

       914,341,400

       524,890,800

      (389,450,600)

         (42.6)

Less:

 

 

 

 

   Interdepartmental Grants Received.........................

              203,100

              203,100

                         0

            0.0 

ADJUSTED GROSS....................................................

       914,138,300

       524,687,700

      (389,450,600)

         (42.6)

Less:

 

 

 

 

   Federal Funds...........................................................

       541,291,300

         93,630,000

      (447,661,300)

         (82.7)

   Local and Private.......................................................

           7,039,200

           7,039,200

                         0

            0.0 

TOTAL STATE SPENDING.........................................

       365,807,800

       424,018,500

         58,210,700

          15.9 

Less:

 

 

 

 

   Other State Restricted Funds..................................

       317,195,300

       337,504,200

         20,308,900

            6.4 

GENERAL FUND/GENERAL PURPOSE...................

         48,612,500

         86,514,300

         37,901,800

          78.0 

PAYMENTS TO LOCALS...........................................

         10,491,100

         10,971,400

              480,300

            4.6 

*As of April 12, 2022.

 

 


 

 

Gross

GF/GP

FY 2021-22 Year-to-Date Appropriation.................................................

914,341,400

48,612,500

 

Changes from FY 2021-22 Year-to-Date:

 

 

  1.  Mackinac Island State Park Infrastructure and Maintenance. The Senate included $35.0 million GF/GP in one-time appropriation funding to support park infrastructure and maintenance. The investment would be allocated as follows: $30.0 million to the Mackinac Island state park to reduce the parks maintenance and repair backlog and $5.0 million for the renovation of a scout barracks within the park.

$35,000,000

$35,000,000

  2.  State Fish Hatchery Upgrades and Improvements. The Governor proposed $30.0 million GF/GP in a one-time appropriation to support upgrades to the Wolf Lake hatchery, located in Mattawan. Additionally, funding would be used to address deferred infrastructure needs, improve energy efficiency, and enhance biosecurity at state fish hatcheries. This would represent the most significant investment that all state's hatcheries have received in 20 years. The Senate did not include the recommendation for full funding; but did include $133,500 in GF/GP.

133,500

133,500

  3.  Natural Resource Equipment Modernization. The Governor proposed $12.4 million in a one-time appropriation to improve efficiency and safety by funding the replacement of aging vehicles and equipment.  Priority equipment would support core department work, including forestry and wildfire suppression, state parks management, and more. The Senate did not include the recommendation for full funding; but did include the $1.6 million in state restricted funds and $133,500 in GF/GP.

1,683,500

 133,500

  4.  State Park Employee Recruitment and Retention (0.0 FTEs) and Recruitment and Retention of Short-Term Workers. The Governor proposed $9.8 million in funding and 40.8 FTEs: $9.2 million in State restricted funding for long-term employees and $678,000 for short-term workers in other divisions. The funding would provide additional rangers and increased hours for seasonal staff, improving recruitment and retention of short-term workers through increased pay, and provide essential resources to State parks to improve the experiences for the public. The Senate included the funding, but not the FTEs.

9,838,500

                      0

  5.  Great Lakes Vessel Modernization. The Governor proposed a one-time appropriation of $4.0 million GF/GP for the replacement of the Lake Michigan Survey Vessel. The current vessel is the Steelhead, which was constructed in 1967 (54 years old). It is at the end of its expected lifecycle. The proposed replacement would be a modern vessel, which would increase efficiency, safety, and reduce maintenance costs and annual emissions. The Senate included.

     4,000,000

     4,000,000

  6.  State Parks Repair and Maintenance. The Governor proposed a $3.1 million investment for capital outlay spending to perform renovations, maintenance, and upgrades to state parks infrastructure. The increase would be from state restricted funds from recreation passport fees. The Senate included.

      3,100,000

0 

  7.  Off Road Vehicle Trail improvements (0.0 FTEs). The Governor proposed $3.1 million in funding and 13.1 FTEs to support the improvement of the off-road vehicle (ORV) trail system through increased enforcement, local maintenance grants, and addressing other priority needs across the state's trail system. Additionally, $1.0 million of this investment would be in the form of grants for ORV trail maintenance and expansion. The Senate included the funding, but not the FTEs.

    3,059,900

0 

  8.  Align Authorization - State Park and Harbor System Authority Operations. The Governor proposed a $2.8 million investment in state restricted funds to address increased non-discretionary operating costs associated with camping and harbor reservations demand, and to mitigate the adverse effects of extreme weather. The Senate included.

     2,820,000

0

  9.  Newberry Customer Service Center Construction Completion. The Governor proposed a one-time appropriation of $2.0 million GF/GP in funding that would allow for the construction of a 30,000-square-foot customer service center and storage facility in Newberry. This facility would allow for the consolidation of staff and equipment from different locations. The Senate did not include the recommendation for full funding; but did include $133,500 in GF/GP.

 133,500

 133,500

10.  State Game and Wildlife Area Infrastructure. The Governor proposed a $1.4 million investment for capital outlay spending; $1.1 million in Federal Pittman-Robertson funds matched by $350,000 in state restricted funds. This item would be used for the protection and restoration of wildlife. The Senate included.

1,400,000

0 

11.  State Boating Infrastructure Maintenance. The Governor proposed a $1.1 million investment for capital outlay spending: $400,000 in Federal funding and the remaining $700,000 from State waterways funding. The appropriation would support the Department as it administers, maintains, and operates the 19 state harbors and over 1,000 state boating access sites. The Senate included.

   1,100,000

0 

12.  Wetland Restoration, Enhancement and Acquisition. The Governor proposed a $1.0 million investment for capital outlay spending. This appropriation would provide state restricted Waterfowl Hunt Stamp revenue for wetland acquisition, enhancement, and restoration with the goal of providing the public with additional recreational opportunities. The Senate included.

  1,000,000

0 

13.  Emergency Response and Wildfire Suppression. The Governor proposed $751,900 GF/GP in funding for an investment to provide additional support for the emergency response work of incident management teams and the wildfire suppression and prevention efforts of fire staff. The Senate did not include the recommendation for full funding; but did include $133,500 in GF/GP.

 133,500

 133,500

14.  Tribal Relations and Fisheries Co-Management (0.0 FTEs). The Governor proposed $652,800 GF/GP in funding and 4.0 FTEs to support the improvement of state and tribal relations, and the co-management of natural resources. The Senate did not include the recommendation for full funding or any of the FTEs but did include $133,500 in GF/GP.

 133,500

 133,500

15.  Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Testing. The Senate retained $500,000 GF/GP in one-time funding to make CWD drop stations available in every county in the core CWD zone for the hunting season.

0

0

16.  Digitization of Archival Records. The Governor proposed a one-time appropriation of $485,000 GF/GP in support of the digitization, indexing, and online access of historical records at risk of loss because of decay. The Senate did not include the recommendation for full funding but did include $133,400 in GF/GP.

 133,400

 133,400

17.  MiConnect Outdoors Credit Card Processing Fees and Maintenance and Support. The Governor proposed a $300,000 increase in authorization for credit card processing fees and $50,000 for increased maintenance and software support costs. The Senate included.

          350,000

                   0

18.  Local Boating Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvements. The Governor proposed $300,000 in capital outlay spending for grants to assist local communities in improving and sustaining their boating facilities. Currently, the Department provides 63 harbors, along with 183 boating access sites, and technical and financial support from State restricted Waterways funding. The Senate included.

      300,000

               0

19.  Michigan State Park Endowment Fund. The Senate included $133,500 in GF/GP as a one-time deposit into the Fund.

 133,500

 133,500

20.  Align Spending Authorization with Available Revenue from Pheasant License Fees. The Governor proposed a $100,000 appropriation to cultivate and increase the state's pheasant population for ongoing hunting activities. This would be the first appropriation authorizing the Department to use the funding accumulating in the fund. The Senate included.

       100,000

                 0

21.  Align Spending Authorization - Youth Hunting and Fishing Education and Outreach Fund. The Governor proposed a reduction of $52,200 to align state restricted resources with anticipated revenues. The Senate included.

         (52,200)

                   0

22.  Removal of the Michigan Conservation Corps. The Senate decreased funding for the conservation corps by $934,000 in GF/GP.

(934,400)

(934,400)

23.  Eliminate State Park Improvement Revenue Bond Debt Service Appropriation. The Governor proposed eliminating the debt service appropriation as no additional payments are required after FY 2021-22. The Senate included.

 (1,201,800)

              0


24.  Removal of FY 2021-22 One-Time Funding. The Governor proposed the removal of current year one-time funding. The Senate included the recommendation for removing one-time funding except for the $500,000 in chronic wasting disease testing mentioned above.

(7,995,800)

(1,995,800)

25.  Removal of P.A 53 of 2022 One-Time Federal and GF/GP Funding. This adjustment represents the amount of funding the Department received in FY 2021-22 from the supplemental for infrastructure improvements in state and local parks that is not included in FY 2022-23.

(450,000,000)

0

26.  Unclassified Salaries. The Governor included $46,800 increase in unclassified salaries. The Senate included.

             46,800

        0

27.  Economic Adjustments. Includes $6,134,000 Gross and $897,600 GF/GP for total economic adjustments, of which an estimated negative $2,461,800 Gross and a negative $342,500 GF/GP is for legacy retirement costs (pension and retiree health). The Senate included.

6,134,000

 897,600

28.  Comparison to Governor's Recommendation. The Senate is $9,261,400 Gross and $9,261,400 GF/GP under the Governor.

 

 

 

Total Changes.........................................................................................

          (389,450,600)

          $37,901,800

FY 2022-23 Senate Appropriations Committee Recommendation............

$524,890,800

      $86,514,300

 

FY 2022-23 Boilerplate Changes from FY 2021-22 Year-to-Date:

  1.  Deleted - Removed Sections. The Senate proposed eliminating the following sections from current-year boilerplate. Some of these deletions align with the Governor's original recommendations and include a variety of sections such as reporting requirements, contingency funds, deprived and depressed communities, record retention requirements, and a one-time appropriation. (Secs. 210, 215, 219, 220, 222, 225, 601, 602, and 1202)

  2.  Reinstated - Retained Sections from P.A. 87 of 2021. The Senate retained the following sections. These sections include a variety of reporting requirements, and statements of legislative intent. (Secs. 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 216, 217, 218, 221, 223, 225, 408, 506, 507, 802, 901, 902, and 1201)

  3.  Retained - As Proposed by the Governor. The Governor proposed technical adjustments to the following sections. The Senate included. (Secs. 201, 209, 211, 212, 214, 224, 302, 803, and 1001)

  4.  Modified - Modified Proposal by the Governor. The Governor proposed technical adjustments to the following sections. The Senate included but made technical adjustments. (Secs. 203, 207, 223)

  5.  Modified - Reimbursement in Legal Expenses. The Senate includes a revision to existing language allowing other departments to hire outside counsel and seek reimbursement for legal fees from the attorney general. (Sec. 208)

  6.  Reinstated - CWD Testing. The Senate proposed language on the use of one-time funding to be implemented. (Sec. 1201)

  7.  New - Great Lakes Vessel Modernization. The Senate proposed language on the use of one-time funding to be implemented for the replacement of the Michigan survey vessel with a ship made in a Michigan shipyard or manufacturer. (Sec. 1202)

  8.  New - Mackinac Island State Park Infrastructure and Maintenance. The Senate proposed language on the use of one-time funding to be allocated as $30.0 million to go towards infrastructure and maintenance backlog, and $5.0 million for the repair and replacement of a Scouts barracks in the park. (Sec. 1203)

 

 

Date Completed:  4-27-22                                                                                                 Fiscal Analyst:  Ben Dawson

 

 

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.