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Committee agrees to use reverted treasurer funds for municipal flood grants; housing funding debated
Summary
The committee agreed to reallocate $1.8 million — proposed from reverted treasurer bond-redemption funds — to municipal flood grants (including Addison County events) and debated whether to place additional housing monies on the FY25 bottom line or release them now for awards.
Senate Appropriations members agreed to move forward with a proposal to provide roughly $1.8 million to municipalities affected by 2024 flood events, using funds the committee planned to revert from the Treasurer’s bond-redemption appropriation rather than drawing on the pilot fund.
Staff explained $200,000 had been appropriated previously for Addison County flood grants but proved insufficient once final damage tallies were completed; the full amount needed for Addison-related grants was described as about $350,000 and the total municipal package — including other July 2024 flood events — was estimated at $1.45 million, for a combined request of about $1.8 million.
Committee staff proposed taking the $1.8 million from the extra $6 million in treasurer reversions (the House left $14 million in reversion; committee staff proposed reverting the full $20 million), which would keep the pilot fund balance intact for future policy discussions while making one-time flood relief available now.
A broader discussion followed about housing appropriations referenced elsewhere in the document. Committee members debated whether to place roughly $8.6 million (two BHCV-related appropriations discussed in the packet) on the FY25 bottom line pending award schedules in May or June, or to hold the money available now to prime housing projects. Some senators argued leaving the funds on the bottom line preserves flexibility if federal match or other revenues shift; others said committing state funds now would accelerate shelter and housing solicitations and program launches.
On balance the committee agreed to add a line to reallocate $1.8 million to municipal flood grants from reverted treasurer funds and to keep a portion of housing funding available for program use, with staff instructed to reflect the changes in updated working documents and the annotated bill for the next meeting.
Ending: staff will insert the $1.8 million appropriation line in the committee’s updated worksheet, note the source as reverted treasurer bond-redemption funds, and circulate revised materials for a final committee vote.
