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House Circles $3.52B Appropriations Act, Opens Debate on $104.6M Supplemental Package
Summary
House leaders circled the FY1992 Appropriations Act (House Bill 401) and opened consideration of a $104.6 million supplemental appropriations bill (Senate Bill 206). Members debated allocations, the West Valley Highway right‑of‑way funding and intent language; the House adopted several intent and technical amendments.
The Utah House on Feb. 27 moved forward on the fiscal year 1992 budgets, circling the Appropriations Act (House Bill 401) and taking up a supplemental appropriations package (Senate Bill 206) that together set spending priorities for the coming year.
Representative Glenny Brown, presenting House Bill 401, said the bill’s topline is $3,521,519,385 — an increase of $126,000,298.31 over the prior year — and yielded floor time to subcommittee chairs to summarize department-level allocations. Subcommittee chairs described appropriations for higher education, public education (including a raised weighted pupil unit), human services, transportation and other agency budgets.
The House also opened debate on Senate Bill 206, the supplemental appropriations act, which Representative Brown described as totaling $104,613,600 in state and restricted funds plus $12,607,300 in federal funds. Floor consideration included a slate of pink-sheet amendments and technical corrections from members.
A recurring point of debate was funding for infrastructure projects and the allocation of acquisition costs for the West Valley Highway. Representative Oskarsen sought intent language that would clarify that local entities — not the state — should acquire certain right-of-way easements, citing earlier local commitments and approximately $2.3 million already spent on easements. Representative Bishop proposed a substitute amendment reducing a line item from $7.5 million to $5.5 million to help balance the package; the substitute passed on the floor after discussion about how the adjustment relates to overall bond and highway financing.
Representative Oskarsen said the change risks violating a prior understanding between local governments and the state: ‘‘Agreement was made — you locals buy it, state will build it,’’ he said, urging the House to preserve local commitments. Representative Bishop replied the adjustment was part of a balancing package and consistent with bond and supplemental actions needed to close the session’s fiscal plan.
What happens next: HB401 remains circled pending action on the supplemental appropriations proposal and an expected bond bill; SB206 and any adopted technical amendments will be folded into final budget negotiations as the Legislature reconciles supplemental and base appropriations.
Key figures: House Bill 401 topline $3,521,519,385 (increase of $126,000,298.31); Senate Bill 206 supplemental total $104,613,600 with $12,607,300 federal funds.
