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Office of Species Conservation requests small revenue increase as federal IIJA grants drive spending picture
Summary
The Office of Species Conservation told the Joint Finance Committee it received a $5 million federal appropriation tied to IIJA in 2023 but that much of the federal funding has not yet been expended; the office seeks a $30,000 increase to its miscellaneous revenue fund to pursue additional nonfederal grants and donations.
The Office of Species Conservation (OSC) told the Joint Finance Committee that federal grants — largely from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — account for most of the office's recent appropriations and that a sizable portion of those federal dollars has not yet been expended.
Janet Jessup, Legislative Services budget analyst, said OSC received roughly $5 million in federal appropriations in 2023 through IIJA and other federal sources but that much of the federal funding was not spent in that fiscal year because the projects and grants are multi‑year. Jessup said the office's trustee and benefit payments are almost entirely federal and pointed to a trustee/benefit line of about $8,235,900 in the materials before the committee.
Administrator Edmonson told the committee OSC is allocated 16 full‑time positions and that the office added a financial specialist last year to help track federal grant cash in and out. The office is asking for a $30,000 increase to its miscellaneous revenue fund so it can pursue nonfederal grants and donations; Jessup said the miscellaneous revenue fund is used for donations, nonfederal grants and settlement funds and that cash on hand forms the ceiling for what the office can spend.
Edmonson also addressed broader policy challenges that affect OSC's work. She highlighted that changes in federal administrations can create a “whiplash” effect on Endangered Species Act listings and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes. “We need to finalize these plans and actually work on managing sage grouse instead of planning to manage sage grouse,” Edmonson said, describing ongoing negotiations over resource management plans and federal records of decision.
The governor's recommendation did not deviate from OSC's enhancement request, Jessup said. OSC offered to provide committee members additional detail on federal fund inventories and how the office expects the federal funds to be spent over time.
