Division of Forestry seeks $20.0M supplemental to repay firefighting shortfall; agency reports substantial reimbursements invoiced

The Nevada Division of Forestry requested a supplemental appropriation to repay a general-fund advance and cover remaining unpaid firefighting bills totaling roughly $20.0 million, Division officials told the committee.

Director James Sotomayor and State Forester/Fire Warden Casey Casey (recorded) said the division sought to reconcile bills for suppression activities and would supplement the general fund advance with the appropriation. Casey reported that since October 2024 the division had invoiced almost $38 million in reimbursements and had received just over $23 million in revenues; those receipts reduced the outstanding need but left additional unpaid bills.

Casey said the division was proposing an expeditious work program to allocate received revenues to outstanding invoices and that the supplemental appropriation shown in the packet reflects outstanding reimbursable obligations not yet paid. The presenter noted that counties and federal partners often reimburse the state for suppression, but invoicing and receipt timing affect cash flow and the need for supplemental authority.

Committee members asked how a pending work program would affect the requested supplemental amount; Casey said incoming reimbursements reduce the supplemental need and that the work program would allow the division to expend the reimbursements on unpaid invoices.

No public opposition was presented during the recorded hearing. The Division of Forestry asked the committee to approve the supplemental appropriation to reconcile outstanding firefighting costs and to provide statutory authority needed to pay pending invoices.