Agency: Governor's Office

Line Item: LeRay McAllister Program

Function

The Legislature established the LeRay McAllister Program line item to provide matching funds for open space preservation.

Statutory Authority

UCA 11-38-301 establishes the LeRay McAllister program under the administration of the Quality Growth Commission.

UCA 11-38-302 outlines legal uses of fund monies. Funds may be granted to a local entity, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture and Food, or a charitable 501(c)3 organization. In most cases, funds may not be used to purchase a fee interest in real property, but rather to purchase a conservation easement.

UCA 63J-1-602 provides nonlapsing status to LeRay McAllister Program appropriations.

Intent Language

Under section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided for the Governor's Office --Quality Growth Commission --LeRay McAllister Program Item 5 of Chapter2, Laws of Utah 2011, not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2012.

Performance

The following table shows the most recent key inputs and outputs of the McAllister Program. The funding cycle begins in April and ends in September or October, crossing fiscal years. As a result, the table is organized by calendar year. The leverage is arrived at by taking the total matching funds and dividing by total LRM funding for each year. Since 1999 the Quality Growth Commission has granted $20.4 million in state funds. Partners in open space preservation have contributed $9.35 for every dollar of state funds. Approximately 80,171 acres have been preserved. The outcome should enhance quality of life through open space preservation.

Funding Detail

Prior to FY 2010, this entity's funding was in a special revenue fund rather than a budget line item. Revenue was appropriated to the special revenue fund from the General Fund. After the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) stated that special revenue funds must receive most of their funding from non-General Fund sources, the Legislature made this a budget line item in H.B. 391, 2009 G.S. Resources reflected as fund balances prior to FY 2010 show as nonlapsing balances beginning in FY 2010 causing statewide beginning nonlapsing balances to increase in FY 2010. The Legislature removed all General Fund appropriations in FY 2012.