House Appropriations Subcommittee hears overview of General Government FY26 budget; major IT and revenue-sharing items highlighted

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government heard a department-by-department preview of the governor’s fiscal 2026 budget recommendation on general government, with the House Fiscal Agency’s senior fiscal analyst Michael Knausson presenting key totals, program changes and funding questions.

Knausson said the general government budget totals about $5.2 billion gross, with roughly $1.8 billion of restricted funds designated for revenue sharing and about $1.6 billion for Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) operations. He said roughly a quarter of the budget is funded by interdepartmental grants (IDGs) and that, excluding IDGs, the general government share approximates $4.0 billion. "The general government budget is many budgets," Knausson said, adding that much of the general fund share pays State Building Authority (SBA) rent and debt service.

Why it matters: the general government package covers multiple executive departments and several constitutionally established agencies whose budgets affect local revenue-sharing dollars, statewide IT systems and debt obligations. The subcommittee’s review will guide line-item scrutiny and any boilerplate language the House chooses to attach during the budget process.

Knausson summarized the governor’s notable recommendations and history:

- Budget stabilization fund: the governor proposes a $50 million deposit that, with current balances and expected receipts, would bring the fund to about $2.5 billion. Knausson said the balance stood at roughly $2.3 billion as of January.

- Attorney General: the…