| Members Present: Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson, Senate Chair Rep. Bradley G. Last, House Chair Sen. Don L. Ipson, Senate Vice Chair Rep. Jefferson Moss, House Vice Chair President J. Stuart Adams Sen. Luz Escamilla Sen. Daniel Hemmert Sen. Jani Iwamoto Sen. Derek L. Kitchen Sen. Karen Mayne Sen. Ann Millner Sen. Evan J. Vickers | Rep. Francis D. Gibson Rep. Brian S. King Rep. Karen Kwan Rep. Carol Spackman Moss Rep. Val L. Peterson Rep. Angela Romero Rep. Mike Schultz Speaker Brad R. Wilson Staff Present: Steven M. Allred, Deputy Fiscal Analyst Jonathan Ball, Fiscal Analyst Greta G. Rodebush, Executive Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the
meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| 1. Call to Order/Approval of Minutes |
| Chair Stevenson called the meeting to order 10:17 a.m. |
| MOTION: Rep. Last moved to approve the minutes of March 11, 2020. The motion passed with a vote of 15-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 15 | Nays-0 | Abs-5 | |
| Rep. F. Gibson Sen. D. Hemmert Sen. D. Ipson Sen. J. Iwamoto Rep. B. King Sen. D. Kitchen Rep. K. Kwan Rep. B. Last Sen. K. Mayne Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Moss Rep. J. Moss Rep. A. Romero Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. E. Vickers | Sen. J. Adams Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. V. Peterson Rep. M. Schultz Rep. B. Wilson |
| Jonathan Ball explained how to use the WebEx technology for today's meeting. |
| 2. Federal/Non-federal Grants |
| Taylor Kauffman, Federal Funds Manager, Governor's Office of Management and Budget, presented the report. |
| 2-Federal/Non-federal Grants Packet, May 2020 |
| Alex Wilson, Financial Analyst, Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst (LFA), provided some additional analysis. |
| Rep. King asked if any of the federal grants were tied into the funding appropriated through the CARES ACT. Alex Wilson responded. |
| Sen. Mayne asked to make a motion. She explained her motion. |
| Sen. Mayne moved to ask the Governor's Office of Management and Budget staff to include in their regular monthly federal funds update to the Executive Appropriations Committee (EAC) about the CARES Act money and how the money has been spent. |
| Chair Stevenson and Jonathan Ball commented on Sen. Mayne's motion. |
| Sen. Mayne explained that the motion will give clarity and transparency to the process governing EAC decisions. |
| Sen. Mayne's motion passed with a vote 17-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 17 | Nays-0 | Abs-3 | |
| Rep. F. Gibson Sen. D. Hemmert Sen. D. Ipson Sen. J. Iwamoto Rep. B. King Sen. D. Kitchen Rep. K. Kwan Rep. B. Last Sen. K. Mayne Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Moss Rep. J. Moss Rep. V. Peterson Rep. A. Romero Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. E. Vickers Rep. B. Wilson | Sen. J. Adams Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. M. Schultz |
| MOTION: Rep. Last moved to recommend acceptance of the federal and non-federal grants as outlined on page 1 of the handout entitled, "Federal/Non-Federal Grants Review and Approval" under the heading, "Grants Requiring EAC Review and Recommendation" and dated today, May 13, 2020. The motion passed with a vote of 18-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 18 | Nays-0 | Abs-2 | |
| Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. F. Gibson Sen. D. Hemmert Sen. D. Ipson Sen. J. Iwamoto Rep. B. King Sen. D. Kitchen Rep. K. Kwan Rep. B. Last Sen. K. Mayne Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Moss Rep. J. Moss Rep. V. Peterson Rep. A. Romero Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. E. Vickers Rep. B. Wilson | Sen. J. Adams Rep. M. Schultz |
| 3. Distribution of Local Government Coronavirus Relief Fund Grants |
| Wayne Bradshaw, Director of Policy, Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT), presented the report. |
| 3-Proposed Distribution Method for CARES Act Local Relief Funds |
| Roger Tew, Senior Policy Analyst, ULCT, discussed topics related to the proposed distribution method for CARES Act Local Relief Funds. |
| Chair Stevenson felt that the method of distribution was equitable. He noted that the CARES Act Local Relief Funds were regulated by the federal government and that the use of those funds should be monitored regularly. |
| Rep. Gibson asked about the use and purpose of the CARES Act Local Relief Funds. Roger Tew responded. |
| Lincoln Shurtz, Director of Government Affairs, Utah Association of Counties (UAC), discussed UAC's negotiations with the cities and towns throughout the State of Utah. |
| Jennifer Wilson, Mayor, Salt Lake County, discussed Salt Lake County's position on the use of CARES ACT Local Relief Funds that included health intervention and longer term budget recovery needs. |
| Tanner Ainge, Commissioner, Utah County, discussed Utah County's intentions to partner with cities and to cover municipal expenses that are directly related to COVID19. |
| Sen. Iwamoto inquired about the indemnification process relative to the State and local governments. Jonathan Ball responded. |
| President Adams commented that local entities should have equal opportunity to access coronavirus relief funding. |
| Speaker Wilson asked ULCT and UAC if there is an expectation that the money that the State has received through the CARES Act will go to cities inside of Salt Lake County or Utah County. Lincoln Shurtz and Roger Tew responded. |
| Rep. King asked if there is a time frame for the counties to reimburse expenses incurred by the cities. Mayor Wilson and Commissioner Ainge responded. |
| Chair Stevenson commented on the distribution of funds. |
| Rep. Carol Spackman Moss asked clarifying questions about the distribution and reimbursement of coronavirus funds within the counties. Commissioner Ainge and Mayor Wilson responded. |
| Rep. Gibson asked about billing rural cities and counties for services rendered to citizens who live in cities and counties outside of Utah County and Salt Lake County. Lincoln Shurtz responded. |
| Sen. Vickers commented that the coronavirus funds need to be distributed equally across the state. |
| 4. Review Range Revenue Estimates for FY 2020 and FY 2021 |
| Dr. Andrea Wilko, Chief Economist, LFA, presented the report. |
| 4-Range Revenue Estimates for FY 2020 and FY 2021 - May 13, 2020 |
| 5. Pandemic Stress Testing |
| Maddy Oritt, Economist, LFA, presented the report. |
| 5-Issue Brief - 2020 Interim - 2020 Pandemic Budget Stress Testing |
| Speaker Wilson asked about the use of and requirements for tapping into rainy day funds. |
| Jonathan Ball explained the specific uses for the rainy day funds. |
| 6. Summary of Special Sessions Budget Actions |
| Jonathan Ball presented "Executing on the Plan," which highlights Utah's fiscal toolkit and budget actions in the 3rd and 4th Special Sessions. |
| 6-Summary of Special Session Budget Actions - May 13, 2020 |
| 7. Identification and Review of New and Expanded Funding for FY 2021 |
| Jonathan Ball reviewed the list of new and expanded funding from the 2020 General Session organized by appropriations subcommittee. |
| 7-Review of New and Expanded Funding from the 2020 General Session |
| 7-Review of New and Expanded Funding from the 2020 General Session |
| Sen. Escamilla expressed concern about using a blanket approach for cutting budgets. She mentioned the impact the budget cuts will have on Social Services. Chair Stevenson responded. |
| Rep. Last pointed out the advantages of involving Utah's legislators in the appropriations subcommittee budget process. |
| Sen. Mayne asked about the option to bond for buildings. Jonathan Ball responded. |
| Chair Stevenson commented on Utah's construction industry. |
| Rep. Kwan asked if the subcommittees would need to reconsider the revenue reductions. Jonathan Ball and Chair Stevenson responded. |
| Sen. Iwamoto indicated that we need to being sensitive to the overall impacts of the budget cuts. She asked if the budget scenarios incorporate a return of the coronavirus. Dr. Wilko responded. |
| Sen. Iwamoto asked a clarifying question about the upcoming appropriations subcommittee budget process. Jonathan Ball responded. |
| 8. Appropriations Subcommittees Schedule and Directions |
| Rep. Last reviewed the appropriations subcommittees' schedule and explained his motion. |
| In order to help the Legislature prepare to balance FY 2021 appropriations with the reduced revenue estimates as presented earlier in this meeting, Rep. Last moved to authorize the appropriations subcommittees to meet during the week of May 26-29. In these meetings the subcommittees should develop options to reduce their agencies’ FY 2021 General and Education Fund base budget amounts by 2, 5, and 10 percent. This exercise assumes that all new money appropriated after the base budget bills has been rescinded to cover a portion of the revenue shortfall. Should a subcommittee wish to recommend funding in addition to base budget amounts, all increases should be offset by additional decreases in base budget amounts. He further moved that appropriations subcommittees meet at other times in the 2020 Interim according to the direction from the Legislative Management Committee. |
| Sen. Escamilla asked for a timeline on the budget reduction process. Jonathan Ball responded. |
| Rep. Last's motion passed with a vote 20-0-0. | |||
| Yeas - 20 | Nays-0 | Abs-0 | |
| Sen. J. Adams Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. F. Gibson Sen. D. Hemmert Sen. D. Ipson Sen. J. Iwamoto Rep. B. King Sen. D. Kitchen Rep. K. Kwan Rep. B. Last Sen. K. Mayne Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Moss Rep. J. Moss Rep. V. Peterson Rep. A. Romero Rep. M. Schultz Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. E. Vickers Rep. B. Wilson |
| 9. Accountable Process Budgets |
| Jonathan Ball explained the accountable budget process. |
| MOTION: Due to the budget reduction exercise that we have directed appropriations subcommittees to conduct this interim, and the additional time the exercise will require, Rep. Last moved to suspend Joint Rule 3-2-501, requiring that each appropriations subcommittee create an accountable process budget, during the 2020 interim. That process would then pick-up in the 2021 Interim where it left off after the 2019 Interim. The motion passed with a vote of 20-0-0. | |||
| Yeas - 20 | Nays-0 | Abs-0 | |
| Sen. J. Adams Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. F. Gibson Sen. D. Hemmert Sen. D. Ipson Sen. J. Iwamoto Rep. B. King Sen. D. Kitchen Rep. K. Kwan Rep. B. Last Sen. K. Mayne Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Moss Rep. J. Moss Rep. V. Peterson Rep. A. Romero Rep. M. Schultz Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. E. Vickers Rep. B. Wilson |
| 10. State Homeless Coordinating Committee Report |
| Jonathan Hardy, Director of Housing and Community Development, Department of Workforce Services, presented the report. |
| 10-State Homeless Coordinating Committee Report - May 2020 |
| MOTION: Rep. Last moved to recommend acceptance of the proposed awards from the Homeless to Housing Reform Restricted Account as presented today. The motion passed with a vote of 20-0-0. | |||
| Yeas - 20 | Nays-0 | Abs-0 | |
| Sen. J. Adams Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. F. Gibson Sen. D. Hemmert Sen. D. Ipson Sen. J. Iwamoto Rep. B. King Sen. D. Kitchen Rep. K. Kwan Rep. B. Last Sen. K. Mayne Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Moss Rep. J. Moss Rep. V. Peterson Rep. A. Romero Rep. M. Schultz Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. E. Vickers Rep. B. Wilson |
| 11. Other Items/Adjourn |
| MOTION: Rep. Last moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 20-0-0. | |||
| Yeas - 20 | Nays-0 | Abs-0 | |
| Sen. J. Adams Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. F. Gibson Sen. D. Hemmert Sen. D. Ipson Sen. J. Iwamoto Rep. B. King Sen. D. Kitchen Rep. K. Kwan Rep. B. Last Sen. K. Mayne Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Moss Rep. J. Moss Rep. V. Peterson Rep. A. Romero Rep. M. Schultz Sen. J. Stevenson Sen. E. Vickers Rep. B. Wilson |
| Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 12:16 p.m. |