FY 1996 Appropriations Report
Natural Resources
General Fund Increases
General Fund increased by 9.3 percent from FY 1995 Estimated of $28,288,900 to FY 1996 Appropriated of $30,921,000. Natural Resources received another $7, 190,000 in General Fund to supplement FY 1995, an increase of 25.42 percent which brings that budget to $35,478,900.
Administration
The Motor pool capital budget increased from $1,800,000 for 120 vehicles to $2,423,700 for 107 vehicles. This represents an increase of more than 50 percent per vehicle. The Department's explanation is that the state's purchasing contract is less favorable.
Supplementals
House Bill 184 appropriates $150,000 to protect the state's interest in R.S. 2477 roads.
Sovereign Lands
The Legislature appropriated $117,000 in Restricted Funds and Dedicated Credits to resolve longstanding problems in the funding of fire wardens.When the Division of State Lands and Forestry was divided, the two agencies shared an attorney. The Legislature appropriated $29,200 in restricted funds to pay half the cost of an attorney. This will avoid conflict of interest problems.
The Legislature appropriated $25,000 to solve sovereign lands boundary disputes (especially around Utah Lake).
Local governments that could not pay their share of firefighting costs were helped by an appropriation of $200,000 in General Fund.
Supplementals
The State's share of fighting fires in the worst fire season ever cost the State $2,200,000 in General Fund.
The State participated in an interagency fire center with local and federal agencies. The Legislature appropriated $40,000 in General Fund for the State's portion of relocating the Interagency Fire Center.
In addition to the $25,000 mentioned above for FY 1996, the Legislature appropriated $50,000 in Restricted Funds for sovereign lands boundary disputes resolution.
Utah Geological Survey
The Legislature made the services of the Geological Survey more accessible and reduced travel costs by appropriating $51,900 in General Fund for a new Cedar City office. Of that amount, $35,500 is one-time.
House Bill 52 appropriates $9,500 to start a Paleontology Certification Program. This is a one-time appropriation.
The Legislature transferred $142,000 in General Fund from the Division of State History to the Utah Geological Survey to enact the provisions of Senate Bill 108. This bill transfers the Paleontology Program from the Division of State History to the Utah Geological Survey.
The Legislature appropriated $243,000 in General Fund for House Bill 28, the Navajo Aquifer Study.
Water Resources
The Legislature appropriated $65,000 in restricted funds for an additional attorney. This attorney will assist their current attorney.
The Legislature appropriated $25,000 in General Fund to help the State keep up with matching requirements in the cooperative stream gauge program.
The Legislature appropriated $5,500 in General Fund to keep up with increases in Colorado River Commission Dues.
The Legislature increased the Conservation and Development revolving loan fund with $2,400,000 in General Fund.
Supplementals
The Legislature appropriated $3,000,000 in General Fund for Central Utah Project Mitigation.
In response to the failure of the Quail Creek Dike, the 1990 Legislature increased dam safety requirements. The Legislature appropriated $800,000 in General Fund for Dam Safety Grants to help operators comply.
In addition to the funding mentioned above for FY 1996, the Legislature also appropriated $500,000 in General Fund for the Conservation and Development water loan fund.
Water
The Division will increase its efforts in title work, as the Legislature authorized a $30/hour fee for title work.
As a result of the passage of three bills; House Bill 105, House Bill 141, and House Bill 138, the Division will save the State $25,000 annually.
Wildlife
The Legislature increased funding for habitat by $400,000 in restricted funds.
The Legislature reduced the demand and use of Wildlife Resources Restricted Funds by funding part of the salary package for the Division with $299,600 in Dedicated Credits from Department Motor Pool excess retained earnings.
The Legislature appropriated $25,000 in restricted funds to implement House Bill 250 which consolidates the Wildlife Boards and initiates the regional advisory councils.
The Legislature appropriated $9,800 ($2,500 restricted funds, $7,300 federal funds) to fund House Bill 129, the Furharvester Education Bill.
Supplementals
Deer populations throughout the state should improve with another appropriation of $1,600,000 in Dedicated Credits from Department of Motor Pool excess retained earnings for the big game license cap. This is the second of three payments.
Cooperative Studies increased from $770,000 FY 1995 appropriated to $3,576,800 due to the infusion of C.U.P. funds.
The Legislature appropriated $200,000 in restricted funds to reseed fire damaged habitat.
Parks and Recreation
The Legislature appropriated $990,000 ($739,600 General Fund and $250,400 Dedicated Credits) to match against Bureau of Reclamation funds to renovate Rockport, Willard Bay, East Canyon, and Deer Creek State Parks. These parks were originally built by the Bureau of Reclamation.
The Legislature appropriated $300,000 in General Fund for Riverways and Trails matching grants.
The Legislature appropriated $400,000 in General Fund for Antelope Island State Park roads.
Senate Bill 209 authorizes the State Building Ownership Authority to issue bonds not to exceed $2,500,000 for a new golf course at Wasatch Mountain State Park.
The Legislature appropriated $72,900 in General Fund for personnel actions.
The Legislature appropriated $8,500 in General Fund to implement Senate Bill 210, Personal Watercraft Regulations.
Senate Bill 74 allows the Division to use $20,000 in Dedicated Credits from the new Green River Golf Course for golf course maintenance and improvements.
The Legislature authorized $152,700 previously appropriated for Lampton Dam Studies (which has gone unused) for use in developing trails within state parks.
The Legislature appropriated $237,700 ($135,100 General Fund, $68,900 Boating Restricted, and $28,700 in Dedicated Credits) for personnel for the new Hailstone portion of Jordanelle State Park.
Supplementals
The Legislature appropriated $350,000 in General Fund to complete the second nine at Palisade park golf course.
Trust Lands
Trust Lands will generate more revenue from the surface estate as the Legislature appropriated $1,579,900 in restricted funds for the Development Program.
The struggle to solve the trust inholdings problems will continue with an appropriation $461,100 in restricted funds.
When the Division of State Lands and Forestry was divided it was intended that the two agencies would share an attorney. The Division of Sovereign Lands and Forestry has taken over that attorney and the Legislature has appropriated $108,500 in restricted funds for another attorney for Trust Lands. This will avoid conflict of interest problems and will increase legal resources.
Supplementals
In addition to the funding mentioned above for FY 1996, the Legislature appropriated an additional $1,070,000 in restricted funds for Inholdings.