Governor’s Office budget request increases; administration will fund federal affairs contract despite DLS recommendation

The Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee heard an analysis of the Governor’s Office fiscal 2026 allowance and proposals on Feb. 17, 2025, where the Department of Legislative Services recommended reducing two new positions and eliminating a requested deficiency for a federal government affairs contract. Scott Benson, an analyst with the Department of Legislative Services, told the subcommittee the fiscal 2026 allowance for the Governor’s Office “increases by 1,600,000 or 7% to 24,100,000,” and that two proposed deficiencies produced a net general fund increase of $403,712.

Why it matters: The disputed items affect the office’s ability to staff a new government modernization initiative and to maintain a federally focused contract intended to protect and pursue federal funding and partnerships — matters the governor’s office and lawmakers said have statewide implications for infrastructure and federal investments.

Benso…