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Assembly hears mixed progress on alcohol‑tax programs; member previews solid‑waste tipping fee to fund Healthy Spaces
Summary
Assembly members questioned OMB about underspent alcohol‑tax line items, including Best Beginnings and two public‑health programs, and were briefed on how Healthy Spaces used contracts during a staff hiring lag. An assembly member previewed a proposed landfill tipping fee to fund ongoing cleanup and Healthy Spaces work.
Assembly members on Aug. 21 pressed the Office of Management and Budget about the status of multiple programs funded by the municipal alcohol tax, including reappropriated grants that show little or no spending in the July budget‑to‑actuals report.
OMB told the Assembly that many alcohol‑tax line items are grants or pass‑throughs that can show 100% when dispersed; however, some items remain at 0% in the ledger because grant paperwork or disbursement timing delayed execution. OMB said it will check with the health department on two specific line items — the ACH Next Step program and the In Our Backyard program — that report 0% despite being appropriated and reappropriated for 2025.
Why it matters: The alcohol‑tax fund pays for programs such as outreach, shelter and public‑health services. Underspent or reappropriated funds…
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