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JFAC approves $30 million ongoing for water projects, grants board authority and reappropriation language
Summary
The committee approved a $30 million ongoing appropriation to the Department of Water Resources' Water Management Fund, added related maintenance items and adopted language authorizing transfers and reappropriations for ARPA/state fiscal recovery projects and directing FY2026 project priorities.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee voted March 14 to appropriate $30,000,000 ongoing from the General Fund to the Department of Water Resources' Water Management Fund for water infrastructure projects and to adopt accompanying statutory language governing transfers and reappropriation authority.
Janet Jessup, budget and policy analyst, explained the governor proposed the $30 million as ongoing; if enacted the amount would become part of the fiscal‑year‑2027 base budget and the Water Management Fund — a continuously appropriated account used by the Board of Water Resources for infrastructure and grant projects. The committee’s FY2026 motion bundled $716,000 transferred from the revolving development fund for aquifer monitoring, IT and mapping maintenance funding, replacement hardware, and the $30,000,000 ongoing item. Representative Manwaring moved the package; a member seconded. The motion added $31,097,700 from the General Fund and four full‑time equivalent positions for FY2026.
Committee members questioned the nature of the ongoing transfer. Jessup said the governor’s motion envisioned transfer language to move the $30,000,000 annually from the General Fund to the water account. The committee approved the motion on a combined vote of 15 ayes and 5 nays (Senate 6‑4; House 9‑1).
Following the appropriation, the committee adopted two related pieces of language: reappropriation authority for ARPA and State Fiscal Recovery monies to ensure the department may spend cash as projects bill out, and a directive setting expectations for use of the $30,000,000 in FY2026, including prioritization in Board districts 3 and 4. The committee removed an intent language item on “incidental recharge” after members raised concerns and said parties would seek solutions in summer meetings.
Committee analysts noted that some enhancements in the department’s request were longstanding items (e.g., aquifer monitoring) and that the department requested new staff to bifurcate water compliance into separate bureaus.
