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State water board presents May Revision snapshot and launches 'Eb & Flow' digital publication
Summary
Budget staff briefed the WQCC on May Revision timing and position reviews; communications previewed 'Eb & Flow', a twice‑monthly digital publication and expanded social media work to spotlight regional stories and staff work.
State budget and communications staff updated the Water Quality Coordinating Committee on May 14 about the midcycle budget process and a communications expansion that includes a new digital publication.
Ryan from the Division of Administrative Services said the Governor’s May Revision was released the day of the meeting; preliminary numbers indicate a board budget of about $1.9 billion and roughly 2,860 positions for the coming year, and an estimated $17 million reduction tied to prior vacancy‑sweep directives. He reported the administration and Legislature remain engaged on certain proposed position abolitions and that 43 positions remain under legislative review.
Ryan also noted the agency is rebuilding automated budget‑tracking tools to restore functionality lost when older accounting systems were retired; concepts for FY27/28 BCPs are due in May and formal proposals follow in the summer.
Communications Director Jackie Carpenter described the office’s media, creative and social media teams, highlighted short‑form video and TikTok activity and introduced Eb & Flow, a twice‑monthly digital publication launched in March to tell longer narrative and human‑centered stories about water projects, staff work and regional successes. Carpenter said Eb & Flow gives staff an avenue to showcase work that may not generate traditional media coverage and noted the office’s interest in profiling a story from each region during the first year.
Why it matters: The May Revision sets the budget conversation for the coming year; communications investments affect how the board explains technical work to the public and how regional accomplishments are highlighted.
What’s next: Budget staff will continue hearings and provide further updates as legislative review progresses. Communications said it will accept story ideas from regions and intends to maintain a twice‑monthly publishing cadence.
