State Water Board staff say budget drills could lower some water-quality fees; May revise will set details

State Water Resources Control Board staff told stakeholders that temporary, statewide budget “drills” from the Department of Finance could reduce the board’s operating costs and — if those reductions are finalized in the May revision to the governor’s budget — could reduce fee needs for the Waste Discharge Permit Fund (WDPF).

Deputy Director John Russell said the board was directed to run two reduction exercises — a vacancy reduction drill and a separate operating reduction exercise — that together required about a 7.94% decrease to operating budgets. He said the exercises arrived after the usual budget materials were prepared and that staff lack final numbers until Finance finishes its review. “Those drills showed up in the governor’s budget as a control section,” Russell said. “We just don't have the information available to generate the detailed cost drivers that we…