Appropriations committee restores Civil Air Patrol grant in Department of Military budget

The Joint Committee on Appropriations approved the Department of Military budget and restored funding for the Civil Air Patrol grant to its base level, rejecting a governor-proposed cut and also declining a proposed additional increase. Representative Muncke moved the motion to set the Department of Military budgets and Representative May seconded; the chair called the roll and the committee recorded the motion as passed (roll call recorded as 14 ayes; several members were excused during the roll call).

Bill Douglas, LRC fiscal staff, explained the treatment of the Civil Air Patrol lines on the military motion sheet: "So what's happening here is we're not checking c 1. So that cut that governor recommended is not happening. But we're also the committee has decided is also not doing c 2, which would add additional money. So what's happening here is that we're restoring the Civil Air Patrol grant back to its base without adding any extra money."

Representative Jorgensen recommended adopting the governor's budget for the Department of the Military with the exception of line C1. Representative Muncke moved the budget motion, which the committee then approved. The motion set budgets for the Adjutant General, Army Guard, and Air Guard at the levels detailed in the Department of Military motion sheet; fiscal staff reported totals of $7,235,412 in general funds, $26,543,810 in federal fund expenditure authority, $29,254 in other fund expenditure authority, and 116.4 FTEs.

Senator Vilhauer asked specifically about the treatment of the $60,000 and an additional $39,000 on the subsequent line; LRC fiscal staff clarified the committee restored the CAP grant to base without adding the extra proposed amount.

The committee recorded the Department of Military budget setting as passed and moved on to the next agenda item.