Legacy finance conference committee adopts compromise funding package after debate over priority projects

The Legacy Finance Conference Committee on May 18 approved a conference committee spreadsheet reconciling House and Senate positions on the Outdoor Heritage Fund, Clean Water Fund, Parks and Trails Fund and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

The action, moved by the Senate co-chair, was adopted by voice vote after about 48 minutes of discussion that centered on how the arts and cultural dollars will be distributed and whether projects formerly funded by direct appropriations should remain as named priority applicants. The committee reported the conference agreement to members for signatures following adoption.

The committee’s fiscal analyst, Brad Hagemeyer, provided a line-by-line review of the spreadsheet and the dollar amounts included in the agreement. Hagemeyer said the Outdoor Heritage Fund appropriation in the report is $162,111,000. He reported the Clean Water Fund total at $303,926,000 and the Parks and Trails Fund at $130,167,000. On the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, Hagemeyer said the conference report appropriates $179,911,000 and that the State Arts Board allocation in the package is $84,558,000, “which maintains the statutory requirement of 47%.”

Hagemeyer also listed numerous named and priority organizations and program carve-outs included in the arts and cultural section of the report, including statewide…