Fiscal Highlights - May 2015

Department of Environmental Quality Significant Changes - Brian Wikle ( PDF)

Executive Director

Amanda Smith, Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), announced that she will step down effective May 22, 2015 following six years of service to the State of Utah in that position. Governor Gary Herbert nominated Alan Matheson, his current Environmental Advisor, to head the agency. Mr. Matheson's appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Reorganization

Senate Bill 244, Department of Environmental Quality Modifications, enacted in the 2015 General Session consolidated the Division of Radiation Control (DRC) and the Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste (DSHW) into the new Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control (DWMRC) effective FY 2016. Senate Bill 3, the final appropriations act of the session, transferred all FY 2016 appropriations from DRC and DSHW to the new division. As shown in the following figure, S.B. 3 split appropriations to the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control between two appropriation units that mirror the discontinued divisions.



If this arrangement was to continue, the agency would need to prepare budgets for both appropriation units. To improve efficiency of budgeting, the agency intends to transfer all funding for DWMRC to a single appropriation unit at the start of FY 2016, and it will request that beginning in the FY 2017 budget cycle appropriations be made to a single appropriation unit for the division.

DEQ expects that the consolidation will improve efficiency by reducing duplicate processes and positions that existed independently in DRC and DSHW. Work units and employees of the discontinued divisions will be integrated leading to cost savings.

Two positions will be eliminated in the X-ray inspection program within DWMRC. Reductions will be accomplished through retirements and reassignment of retained x-ray inspection staff to open positions in the division. In anticipation of the reduction in x-ray inspection staff, the Legislature reduced ongoing General Fund appropriations to DEQ by $243,400.

Air quality funding changes

The Legislature appropriated $2.97 million for efforts to improve air quality as follows:
  • $2.0 million for facilities for alternative fuel vehicles (ongoing); 
  • $700,000 for grants to encourage individuals and entities to convert engines to cleaner fuels (one-time); 
  • $200,000 for air quality research (one-time); and, 
  • $70,000 for modeling emissions from solid fuel burning devices (one-time).
May 2015 Content ( PDF)

Bond Refunding: Saving Money on Debt Service - Clare Tobin Lence
Bonds are used to finance large State initiatives, usually in the form of major infrastructure proj...
Budget Policy Changes Enacted in 2015 G.S. - Steven M. Allred
During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature passed several bills that had an impact on budgeta...
Classroom Teachers in Utah's Public Schools - Ben Leishman
Do classroom teachers really only represent 50% of all full time equivalent (FTE) positions in the ...
Department of Environmental Quality Significant Changes - Brian Wikle
Executive DirectorAmanda Smith, Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)...
Employment Drives Economic Growth - Andrea Wilko
Strong employment continues to be the largest factor in economic growth in Utah.  Economists...
Justice Reinvestment Initiative Funding and Performance Goals - Gary R. Syphus
House Bill 348, Criminal Justice Programs and Amendments, amended current criminal justice statute,...
The April Tax Payments are In - How Do They Look? - Thomas E. Young
Every year staff presents you with point estimates for year-end revenue collections to the General ...
UCAT Program Approvals - Angela J. Oh
Certificate programs provided by campuses of the Utah College of Applied Technology (UCAT) are deve...
Utah System of Higher Education Increases Tuition by 3% for 2015-2016 - Spencer C. Pratt
During its regular meeting on March 27, 2015, the State Board of Regents approved a first-tier tuit...
What Are We Doing to Reduce Catastrophic Wildfires in Utah? - Ivan D. Djambov
The Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands is tasked in S.B. 56, Wildland Fire Policy (2015 GS...
Where Does the Department of Health's Fee Revenue Come From? - Russell T. Frandsen
The Department of Health estimates total revenue of $13.1 million for FY 2016 from 1,200 fees. &nbs...
Workforce Services Will Report on $29 Million of Additional One-time TANF Projects - Stephen C. Jardine
The Legislature passed S.B. 47, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, during its 2015 General Se...

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