JFAC advances budget additions for parks, higher education, career-technical education and STEM programs

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee (JFAC) voted to advance several budget adjustments affecting state parks, higher education programs and workforce training during its March 11 meeting.

Janet Jessup, a budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, gave the committee an overview of the Department of Parks and Recreation budget and the recommended adjustments. “On the screen before you, we have the Department of Parks and Recreation,” Jessup said as she described the agency’s statewide responsibilities and the items before the committee.

Why it matters: The motions approved by JFAC would shift several million dollars of dedicated and federal funds into park operations and capital projects, increase pay and seasonal staffing, and consolidate program lines. The State Board of Education and career‑technical programs received additions intended to expand capacity at higher education institutions and community colleges, and the STEM Action Center received funding for equipment replacements.

Parks and recreation Senator Hart moved, and Representative Manwaring seconded, a FY2026 program maintenance motion for the Department of Parks and Recreation that would add 5.0 full‑time equivalents and $8,135,700 in combined funding (an increase of $5,410,700 from dedicated funds and $2,725,000 from federal funds). The motion included line‑item adjustments stated on the record: $321,100 for park personnel, $210,000 for seasonal group positions, $195,000 for statewide operating costs, $309,100 for targeted pay increases, $140,000 for an OHV use campaign, $4,000,000 for Bear Lake State Park improvements, $400,000 for Lake Cascade improvements, a $23,035,600 intra‑program transfer to consolidate management services into park operations, $2,263,000 for replacement items, and $197,500 for OITS hardware.

Representative Furness asked for specifics about a $200,000 decrease in replacement items; members of the work group explained the reduction reflected use of retained funds already held by the agency. After debate the committee adopted the motion; the roll call produced a committee recommendation to pass (majority approved; the committee reported 17 ayes, 3 nays on the motion).

Language accompanying that action was approved by unanimous consent to allow transfers from the consolidated park operations program to capital development grant uses.

State Board of Education — supplemental and FY2026 maintenance Dr. Campbell, representing the State Board of Education, described a supplemental request supporting a credit‑mobility grant. He said the grant runs one year covering two fiscal years and is intended “to support its work, ensuring that credits are transferable between institutions.” The committee approved a $20,000 supplemental for the credit mobility grant from the miscellaneous revenue fund by roll call (committee recommendation to pass recorded: 17 ayes, 3 nays overall for the supplemental vote as announced).

For FY2026 maintenance the committee considered a larger package offered by Representative Petzke that included one new FTP and several dedicated and general fund items, among them $5,000,000 ongoing as trustee/benefit payments for a public‑private workforce capacity grant. Representative Petzke described the motion as a compromise from the working group and said it prioritized certain line items while trimming others. Senator Wintrow offered a substitute motion to increase the workforce capacity grant to $15,000,000; that substitute motion failed on a roll call (final committee tally on the substitute: 2 ayes, 18 nays). The committee then approved the original motion on a subsequent roll call; the committee announced the motion would go forward as a bill with a due‑pass recommendation.

Committee members and co‑chairs also approved language directing the State Board to report on credit and transcript mobility and to develop policy recommendations related to outcome‑based funding for higher education; that language passed on a roll call and will be attached to the bill moving forward.

Career technical education The Division of Career Technical Education (CTE) presented its budget. Senator Woodward moved a package that included $2,273,700 in federal grant spending authority, $50,000,000 one‑time general fund for adult education and literacy related programs, and $10,000,000 ongoing general fund (as trustee/benefit payments) to be distributed to technical colleges. The motion as read and recorded by JFAC added $10,050,000 from the general fund and $2,273,700 from federal funds for an overall spending authority increase; the committee approved the motion and the bill will move forward with a due‑pass recommendation. Language accompanying the appropriation requests a report on adult education and literacy outcomes over the preceding five fiscal years and provides certain object‑transfer exemptions and conditions for program spending.

STEM Action Center Representative Price moved a one‑time general fund appropriation (recorded as $9,900 for IT replacements) for the STEM Action Center; Senator Borden seconded. The committee approved the motion on roll call; the motion will move forward with a due‑pass recommendation.

Votes at a glance - Department of Parks and Recreation (FY2026 program maintenance): Motion by Senator Hart; second by Representative Manwaring. Outcome: committee recommendation to pass (17 ayes, 3 nays). Key provisions: $8,135,700 total increase (dedicated + federal), +5.0 FTE, capital projects at Bear Lake and Lake Cascade, consolidation of management services into park operations; accompanying language permitting transfers to capital development grants approved by unanimous consent. - State Board of Education — Credit mobility supplemental: Motion (amount $20,000 from miscellaneous revenue fund). Outcome: committee recommendation to pass (as announced on the record). - State Board of Education (FY2026 maintenance): Motion by Representative Petzke; substitute to raise workforce grant to $15,000,000 failed (2 ayes, 18 nays); original motion approved and will proceed as a bill with due‑pass recommendation. Key provision: workforce capacity grant included (motion includes $5,000,000 as trustee/benefit payments per the motion). - Division of Career Technical Education: Motion by Senator Woodward; outcome: committee recommendation to pass (roll call recorded); key provisions include $10,050,000 general fund and $2,273,700 federal funds (total spending authority increase), plus one‑time adult education and ongoing technical college distributions and required reporting language. - STEM Action Center: Motion by Representative Price; second by Senator Borden. Outcome: committee recommendation to pass (roll call recorded); one‑time IT replacement funding included.

What’s next All motions approved by JFAC will be forwarded with committee language and due‑pass recommendations. Committee members said they expect additional committee business the following day and adjourned the meeting until 8 a.m. the next morning.