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Natural Resources subcommittee shifts fund sources, requests cost report and keeps Denali Commission grant as one‑time
Summary
The House Finance subcommittee for DNR recommended FY26 funding with several fund source changes, moved some positions to timber sale receipts, converted a Denali Commission increment to one‑time, and requested a report on forest management project costs.
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the Department of Natural Resources recommended an FY26 operating budget that adjusts fund sources for several requests, shifts some positions to timber sale receipts, makes a Denali Commission grant a one‑time increment and asks the department for a project cost report.
The subcommittee recommended UGF $66,627,300; DGF $50,369,400; Other $52,713,800; and Federal $13,584,200, for a total of $183,294,700. Position totals were 746 permanent full‑time, 72 permanent part‑time and 72 temporary (1,026 total). Compared with FY26 adjusted base, subcommittee recommendations increased UGF by 2.2% and DGF by 6.6%, and shifted some fund sources away from UGF to program receipts and timber sale receipts.
Why it matters: The subcommittee shifted funding for new positions that support development of lands for timber sales from UGF to timber sale receipts and recommended the Denali Commission grant be funded as a one‑time increment. The panel also requested a department report detailing infrastructure projects funded within the forest management and development allocation.
Specific changes noted included converting funding for Big Game concession area implementation to program receipts, using timber sale receipts for positions supporting new land development, and making Trust Land Office administration changes via MTAR funds as a member amendment. The subcommittee adopted amendments to maintain funding for an AKLNG commercial analyst and to appropriate additional vehicle rental tax fund revenue to Parks and Outdoor Recreation. Members asked about the Denali Commission grant, which staff said would support forest management activities such as reforestation, fire mitigation and health treatments on private lands.
Two amendment proposals regarding use of DNR administrative and IT personnel for a proposed Department of Agriculture and a requested project cost report were discussed; the subcommittee said the personnel transfer idea was under consideration and requested the department produce the infrastructure project cost report.
