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Committee told animal welfare position exists but funding omitted from governor's budget due to technical error
Summary
Staff said a public safety animal welfare position was created but the governor's recommended budget omitted the funding because the position was not filled when the governor's budget was prepared; staff confirmed funding is from a special fund and said no new appropriation is required.
Amy Cook told the Appropriations committee that a public safety animal welfare position was included in department staffing but the governor's recommended budget did not include the funding because the position was not yet filled when the governor's budget was prepared. Cook described the omission as a technical error in the budget system and confirmed the funding is special fund revenue rather than general fund, meaning a new general fund appropriation would not be required.
Committee members asked whether benefits and other operating costs were missing from the governor's document; staff acknowledged those costs were not fully reflected in the posted numbers and said the omission had taken time to trace to a place in the budget system. Cook said the position has been created and that staff had confirmed the funding source.
No formal committee vote or policy change occurred during the meeting; staff said they would continue to reconcile the position's budget line so the committee's final FY26 package reflects the existing position and correct funding treatment.
