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Office of Species Conservation reports large federal grant authority and trustee payments, requests minor miscellaneous revenue increase
Summary
The Office of Species Conservation told the Joint Finance Committee that recent budget increases were driven primarily by federal grant authority (including IIJA funds) and trustee pass‑through payments and that it is requesting a $30,000 increase in its miscellaneous revenue appropriation.
The Office of Species Conservation told the Joint Finance Corporation Committee on Oct. 24 that its budget growth in recent years was driven largely by federal grant appropriations — including an IIJA allocation in 2023 — and by trustee and benefit pass‑throughs. Administrator Edmonson said the office is built to plan and coordinate actions related to candidate, threatened and endangered species and that most trustee and benefit payments are federal funds earmarked for specific restoration activities.
Why it matters: The office coordinates state responses to endangered species issues and administers pass‑through federal funds for habitat restoration and species projects; right‑sizing federal appropriations and understanding unobligated cash versus authorized spending authority matters for legislative oversight.
Key details: Janet Jessup said the office received about $5 million in federal appropriations in 2023 related to IIJA and other federal grants; much of that authority did not convert to expenditures in the same fiscal year because projects are multi‑year. Jessup noted trustee and benefit payments in 2024 of about $8.24 million and explained those are federal funds tracked separately. The office currently holds 16 full‑time positions and in 2025 spent about 14% of its appropriation on personnel. The office asked for a $30,000 increase in its miscellaneous revenue fund appropriation to pursue nonfederal grants and donations; the governor’s recommendation did not alter the agency’s requests.
Why timing matters: Jessup explained that agencies must report federal fund inventories and that the legislature appropriates by federal fund source rather than by individual grant; the office reduced some appropriations to “right‑size” expectations when grant receipts were lower than initially estimated. Administrator Edmonson also highlighted the need to avoid repeated NEPA and federal administrative whiplash when federal agencies change course across administrations.
Ending: The office said it will provide detailed federal fund inventories and that the recently approved fiscal specialist position has improved its ability to track incoming and outgoing funds. The administrator thanked Legislative Services staff and the committee for the new fiscal specialist position.
