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Office of Species Conservation says federal grants drive most activity; requests small increase in miscellaneous fund
Summary
Administrator Edmondson told the Joint Finance Committee the Office of Species Conservation’s operations and trustee payments hinge on federal grants, that large federal appropriations in 2023 were largely one-time IIJA awards, and that the office seeks a $30,000 increase in its miscellaneous revenue fund to pursue non‑federal grants.
The Office of Species Conservation told the Joint Finance Committee that its budget and work are driven largely by federal grants and trustee payments, and the office requested a modest increase in its miscellaneous revenue appropriation to pursue additional non‑federal grants.
Budget analyst Janet Jessup said the office is allocated 16 full‑time positions and that trustee and benefit payments — which flow mostly from federal sources — comprised a large share of recent expenditures. Jessup noted a $5,000,000 federal appropriation the office received in 2023 tied to Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds; those federal funds were not fully expended in the year they were appropriated and some authority later reverted when grant activity lagged.
Administrator Edmondson described the office’s core mission of coordinating planning and restoration for species listed or considered under the federal Endangered Species Act. Edmondson told the committee that federal processes such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) can take years and that changes in federal administration can alter schedules and produce “whiplash” in planning: “So anytime there's a federal action we have to go through a process of NEPA. And, usually it's a long process that can often take 4 years,” Edmondson said.
Jessup said the office is requesting a $30,000 increase to its miscellaneous revenue fund in fiscal 2026 to create funding authority to accept grants, donations and settlements from non‑federal sources. She and Edmondson emphasized that federal funds form the ceiling for the office’s ability to spend: if the office is appropriated $50,000 but only receives $10,000 in cash, it can only spend $10,000.
The governor’s recommendation matched the agency’s request. Edmondson thanked the committee for the fiscal specialist position the legislature added last year and said the specialist has helped the office track incoming grant funds and expenditures.
No formal committee vote was taken; Edmondson and staff agreed to provide any additional documentation the committee requests.
