Representative Shipp wins amendment to advance Iron County effluent water reuse project
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Summary
Representative Shipp successfully moved to advance an Iron County effluent water reuse project on the subcommittee’s one‑time prioritized state fund list, citing a loss of roughly 7,000 acre‑feet per year from the county aquifer and projected municipal shortages by 2030; staff confirmed advancing the item will place it higher on the one‑time list submitted to EAC.
Representative Shipp moved to amend the state fund priority list to elevate an Iron County effluent water reuse project from its prior position to number 7 on the one‑time list, arguing the change was urgent because local supplies are rapidly declining.
"Our aquifer is dropping by over 7,000 acre feet a year," Shipp said, adding that the city could begin losing water in 2030 and that a large share of the city's supply is junior water. Shipp asked committee members to prioritize the project higher on the one‑time list so the project would receive earlier Executive Appropriations Committee consideration.
Staff clarified how fiscal years and funding pools interact. Lacey Moore explained the committee can move items into different years' consideration groups, and committee staff indicated the posted voting packet and the online materials explain the distinctions. Yvonne, a staff member, told the committee that moving the project up "will make a difference because... this will be on the one time list higher up," meaning the change affects how EAC sees one‑time priorities.
Committee members discussed whether the project would compete with other items in the same appropriation year; members noted some items are drawn from different fiscal pools. After discussion, the committee approved the amendment by voice vote and then approved the amended state priority list.
The committee did not record a roll‑call tally. The amended list will be forwarded to the Executive Appropriations Committee for allocation decisions and any required next steps.
