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FPR presents FY27 budget; proposes raising Lands & Facilities Trust Fund draw from 5% to 8%
Summary
Agency of Natural Resources officials told the committee the Forest, Parks and Recreation budget would total about $53.6 million, highlighted $500,000 in base funding for workforce programs, a $275,000 request for a Type 6 wildland fire truck, and proposed changing the Lands and Facilities Trust Fund distribution from 5% to 8% to fund on‑the‑ground stewardship and limited admin support.
Daniel Fitsko, Commissioner of Forest, Parks and Recreation, and Steve Gomez, chief financial officer for the Agency of Natural Resources, presented FPR's recommended FY27 budget to the committee and described several program and capital priorities.
Fitsko opened by describing FPR's mission to conserve Vermont's forest resources and operate the state's 55 parks, saying the system had "just under 1,000,000 visitors this year" and stressing parks' economic role. "We like to say there's a state park within 20 minutes of every Vermonter," Fitsko said, framing recreation as both a public service and economic driver.
The budget overview: agency staff told the committee the department's consolidated FY27 budget would be about $53.6 million (a roughly $1 million decrease from the prior year driven by timing of a large land acquisition). Funding sources include general fund, a parks special fund, multiple special funds, federal grants and interdepartmental revenues.…
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