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CFO outlines budget changes: NEPA positions, IT hires and cap‑and‑trade shortfall risk
Summary
Chief Financial Officer Jamie Matalka told the committee that the final state budget adds staff for NEPA compliance and IT, pauses proposed austerity cuts for now, and highlighted a potential shortfall as recent cap‑and‑trade auction proceeds came in below planning assumptions.
Jamie Matalka, chief financial officer for the California High‑Speed Rail Authority, told the Finance and Audit Committee the recently enacted state budget includes four key changes affecting the authority’s operations: new positions for NEPA implementation, IT hires, a pause on proposed austerity reductions and modest reimbursement authority for an inspector general office.
"Thirteen new positions for implementing the NEPA assignment MOU" were added, Matalka said, referencing the agreement under which the authority serves as lead agency for NEPA and related federal environmental compliance tied to projects connected to the high‑speed rail system. He said the authority is aware of eight local projects that may be included under the NEPA assignment.
Matalka said the budget also provides eight new information‑technology positions over two years to develop…
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