Ways and Means roundup: committee adopts a slate of budget provisos, funding shifts and procedural positions

The Senate Ways and Means Committee on May 20 considered and voted on numerous procedural and substantive budget provisos, adopting a package of motions that will form the Senate's negotiating positions in conference with the House.

Committee members approved motions on a range of issues, including a deletion from the pay-plan adjustment, new language on lapsing FTE (full-time equivalent) funding, technical amendments for the Board of Regents, limits and investment authority for the budget stabilization ("rainy day") fund, and a number of funding source and reappropriation clarifications across agencies. Several narrowly contested or procedural motions failed after debate.

Why this matters: the committee's votes set the Senate's official positions heading into conference with the House on HB 2007 (the budget bill) and related provisos, affecting state agency budgets, special grants and how certain funds may be invested or spent.

Key outcomes

- Salary adjustment: The committee adopted Senator Klase's motion to delete $1.6 million (including $1.5 million SGF) tied to a 1% step adjustment for positions more than 10% above market; the motion was seconded by Senator Owens and carried.

- Lapsing FTEs: Senators approved a Klase motion that would require agencies to lapse funding for positions that remain vacant…