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Subcommittees revise ARPA authority for DCNR water conservation grants and reassign program staff
Summary
The subcommittees approved technical adjustments to American Rescue Plan Act authority for DCNR—s water conservation and infrastructure account, moved an administrative services officer to the Director—s Office, and approved elimination timing for a management analyst position to support grant closeout.
At today—s joint subcommittee meeting, fiscal staff recommended and the subcommittees approved adjustments to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources— water conservation and infrastructure budget account (account 4159), including reductions to federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) authority and technical adjustments to reflect projected subaward authority during the 2025–27 biennium.
Justin Luna, fiscal analyst, told members the account was created with $100 million in federal ARPA funding for drinking-water, wastewater, stormwater grants and groundwater-rights retirement. The governor—s recommendation reduces ARPA authority in the 2025–27 biennium; fiscal staff recommended a technical revision to reflect $20.2 million in each fiscal year of the biennium in ARPA authority for project subawards, reconciled during fiscal-year-end closing. Fiscal staff also recommended reductions of $49.5 million in fiscal year 2026 and $49.6 million in fiscal year 2027 as shown in the executive budget, with the technical adjustment for subawards.
The subcommittees also approved transferring an Administrative Services Officer position to the DCNR Director—s Office effective April 1, 2027, to assist with program closeout and complex arbitrage requirements associated with conservation bond and grant programs. The agency confirmed it expects to expend ARPA project funds by the federal deadline of Dec. 31, 2026, and that the Governor—s Finance Office confirmed federal ARPA funds may be used for personnel and administrative closeout costs through March 31, 2027. Fiscal staff requested authority to make a technical correction to set the elimination date of a Management Analyst position to March 31, 2027; the subcommittees approved that approach.
Chair Taylor moved to adopt staff recommendations; Assemblymember Brown May seconded. The motion carried.
