Agency of Natural Resources: governor's FY26 recommendation about $342 million; federal grants drive growth, officials say

The Agency of Natural Resources presented the governor’s FY 2026 budget recommendation of just under $342 million on Feb. 7, with Secretary Julie Moore saying much of the growth reflects federal pass-through grants for water, wastewater and forest-health work.

The budget matters because nearly three-quarters of ANR’s funding flows through the Department of Environmental Conservation and federal short‑duration grants — from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and ARPA, among others — now make up a large share of the agency’s activity. That has expanded the agency’s capacity for infrastructure investments while shifting the mix of base operating funds and one‑time project money, Moore said.

Moore said the governor’s recommended total is roughly $45 million higher than the prior year, an increase of about 15%, and that roughly 60% of the agency’s budget is now dedicated to grants, contracts and loans to municipalities, partner organizations and businesses. “It has been an incredible opportunity to make some really significant investments in core infrastructure, but it has also not been without its challenges,” Moore said.

Agency staffing currently totals 668 full‑time employees, Moore said, swelling to more than 1,000 in the summer months as seasonal park staff are added. About…