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Youth Conservation Corps seeks capacity funding and software; committee adopts LFC recommendation
Summary
The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) requested funding for an additional staff position and project‑management software to support field projects and climate corps expansions; the committee adopted the LFC request while noting the agency’s non‑general fund revenue model.
The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) presented its budget and program outcomes to the Appropriations & Finance Committee and requested funding for a new FTE and a project‑management software package to increase capacity for managing grants and field projects. The committee adopted the LFC recommendation.
YCC director Sarah Wood said the agency is primarily funded from a diversion of governmental gross receipts and that over 90% of its budget goes to field projects; roughly 70% of project dollars pay member wages and benefits. Wood said the agency has maintained high participant approval ratings (about 97% on exit surveys) and runs projects ranging from forest and rangeland conservation to emergency response, senior‑center improvements and public art.
The LFC recommendation increased YCC other revenues usage by about $627,100 (13%); the executive increased other revenues by about $1.1 million (23.8%), largely because the executive would include Climate Corps contract expansions and additional personnel that LFC did not. LFC added roughly $65,000 for an additional FTE and did not include the Climate Corps expansion; the executive recommended larger personnel and contract increases.
Wood said YCC awards funds to eligible entities (nonprofit organizations, school districts, municipalities, tribal entities and other units of government) through a competitive RFP process; awardees hire and supervise core members and are reimbursed for eligible costs. She said average member pay increased modestly during COVID from about $13 to $14 per hour and that the statutory minimum is at least local minimum wage. For FY25 the agency received about 51 applications and funded 39 projects; YCC’s historic target for youth employed annually is 840, but staff said actual projects in recent years have been smaller crews.
Vice Chair Sarnana moved adoption of the LFC recommendation; Representative Little seconded and no objections were recorded.
