Parks and Recreation seeks millions in SIF, staffing and infrastructure funds in House Bill 1019 hearing

The Appropriations — Education & Environment Division opened and heard House Bill 1019 on Parks and Recreation, where Director Cody Schulz laid out a package of one‑time and ongoing requests that, if approved, would fund storm‑shelter comfort stations, deferred maintenance, park automation and staffing changes.

Schulz told the committee the first one‑time line item is $924,000 intended as state matching funds for comfort stations that could be engineered to serve as FEMA‑eligible storm shelters. "We're cautiously optimistic that we'll receive that funding and that buildings could be dual use," Schulz said, adding FEMA would cover roughly 75% of the cost if the buildings meet shelter standards. Schulz and staff said the $924,000 would be the 25% state match on an approximate $2.75 million project total; staff indicated the money is currently presented to the committee as a SIF‑eligible request and could also be eligible from the disaster relief fund.

Schulz then reviewed staffing and position proposals. The agency asked for two new FTEs at a combined cost of $382,962 from general fund dollars, likely to be placed at Pembina Gorge State Park and at Roughrider (near Medora) as construction and expanded operations come online. He also requested authority and funding to…