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Legislative committee approves $3.1 million Blue Book funding, maintains property-tax audit appropriation
Summary
The Executive Committee of the Legislative Council approved staff recommendations to fund the 2026 Blue Book at $3,100,000 and to maintain $852,000 for the constitutionally required property tax audit; the motion passed unanimously on a roll call.
The Executive Committee of the Legislative Council approved staff recommendations to appropriate $3,100,000 for the 2026 voter information “Blue Book” and to maintain a $852,000 appropriation for the constitutionally required property tax study.
Natalie Castle, council staff, told the committee the $3.1 million recommendation covers printing and publication for the Blue Book and would also replenish the Blue Book revolving-fund reserve to about $1,000,000. Castle said the recommendation follows a year in which the Blue Book appropriation was reduced to $500,000 because the prior edition was smaller and less costly.
The committee moved the recommendation into a formal motion. ‘‘Madam Speaker, I move to approve staff recommendations for long bill appropriations for the Blue Book and the property tax audit as presented by staff,’’ said Mister President. After a second, Miss Kurtz Phelan called the roll; members present recorded affirmative votes and the motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The Blue Book is the state’s official voter information guide; restoring funding to a level consistent with cyclical election costs is intended to ensure full analysis and publication for the 2026 election cycle. The property tax audit appropriation remains at the same level as the current year, which staff said is required by the state constitution.
The committee took no other action on the long-bill items at this meeting.
