Acting public lands secretary urges larger, multi-year fund for land-use plan update

Sixtu Kaipari Somer, acting secretary of the Department of Public Lands, told the Senate spending committee he supports Senate Bill 24-1212 but urged changes to how the bill funds an update to the commonwealth land use plan.

Somer said the department continues to support comments previously submitted by former Secretary Teresita Santos and recommended an increase in the bill’s set-aside for the land-use plan from $200,000 to $275,000. "The land use plan was created with about $800,000. To try and update the land use plan would require us to hire consultants ... and will require a lot more," Somer said, explaining why he views $200,000 as insufficient.

Somer recommended drafting language that would authorize Finance to hold the appropriation in a fund so the Department of Public Lands could incrementally add money year to year and run an RFP to determine actual cost. He said the department wants the flexibility to accumulate funds rather than be forced to spend or transmit a single-year appropriation before a full procurement and cost estimate are completed. "If we put $200,000 in a budget, we have to spend it or transmit it. So that's all I ask," Somer said.

Committee members acknowledged the recommendation and indicated they would note it for potential amendment when the bill is taken up. No committee vote on Senate Bill 24-1212 occurred during the session; the chair later said several bills on the agenda would be tabled for future meetings.