ANR asks for FY2026 adjustment to cover retroactive game warden pay-grade increases

The Agency of Natural Resources asked the House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 13 for a fiscal 2026 Budget Adjustment Act appropriation to cover retroactive pay-grade increases for game wardens approved in April 2025 and made retroactive to July 2024. Julie Moore, the agency’s secretary, said the general fund appropriation the agency received last year was insufficient to meet the full financial impact and that the adjustment would close that gap.

Moore told the committee the request is one of two modest BAA items the agency brought forward and that the pay-grade changes were already approved by the state and made retroactive to July 2024. Committee members and agency staff clarified timing: the agency said FY2025 and FY2026 impacts must be reconciled now, and the FY2027 base budget will include the correct ongoing amounts once the agency processes actual payroll costs.

Charles Martin, the agency’s deputy secretary, answered technical questions about the timing and confirmed the agency expects internal budget systems to reflect the changes in the FY2027 budget cycle. The department said some vacancy savings were applied in the calculation because actual staffing data are now available.

No formal motion or vote was recorded during this hearing on the request; committee members signaled the item appeared straightforward and moved on to the next agenda topic. The committee expects to review further budget materials in the coming weeks as the FY2027 budget materials are finalized.