COBI 2015 - Utah Geological Survey

Overview
Issues
Performance
Background
Financials

Sources Uses

FY 2016 Appropriation

Mission: The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) provides timely, scientific information about Utah's geologic environment, resources, and hazards.

UGS is organized in two areas: Support and Technical programs. The two support programs for the five technical programs are Technical Assistance and Administration. The Technical programs include:

Geological Hazards
Mapping Geology
Energy and Mineral Resources
Ground Water & Paleontology
Geologic Information and Outreach

The Survey does not have regulatory power except in areas concerning paleontology. Otherwise, the agency must "assist," "advise," and "cooperate with" other groups.

Funding History

Funding Issues

Geologic Hazard Mapping

The landslide of August 5, 2014 in North Salt Lake left one home destroyed and neighbors worried about their own homes, with one of them quoted in the media wondering "Did we build in the right place?" How can home buyers and local government officials know if an area is safe in terms of geologic hazards? Many local government officials are also left in "the dark" as they respond to requests for rezoning to accommodate proposed new development in their boundaries without the needed geological hazard data. The lack of this information often leads local governments to permit areas that are not suitable for development. The results include excessive maintenance costs and potential liability from damaged streets, sidewalks, and utility infrastructure (water, sewer, and stormwater), along with increased expenses for private electric, gas, and communications utilities. These costs are ultimately borne by the taxpayer and utility subscribers. An example of this is SunCrest development in the Draper area. This funding will provide additional staff and equipment in order to expedite the production of geologic hazard maps in the state. Currently the state has 2 FTE, and they are able to produce 1-2 maps per year. This funding will double the FTE and the efforts.

Related Publications

Where Is the Geologic Hazards Information?

Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $8,483,100 from all sources for Utah Geological Survey. This is a 2.4 percent reduction from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $3,071,800 from the General/Education Funds, a reduction of 0.5 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.

Appropriation Adjustments

In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:

DescriptionOngoingOne-Time Assist with Geological Survey Shortfall$0$300,000

OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source

$0$300,000General Fund, One-time

Sen. Hinkins requested to provide 1x funding to assist with UGS' shortfall from the LEDA and Federal Mineral Lease this year (low oil prices); next year they will have several staff retire and be able to absorb it better, without RIF.

Geologic Hazard Mapping$184,800$3,000

OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source

$184,800$0General Fund

$0$3,000General Fund, One-time

Reduction of SITLA Capital Development Projects ($335,600)$0

OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source

($335,600)$0GFR - Land Exchange Distribution Account

Due to the downturn in the economy, SITLA has reduced its capital development projects and the need for this funding is no longer there.

Staff Analysis

Due to the anticipated reduction in revenues from the Land Exchange Distribution Account, the division has recommended reduction to the appropriation from this funding source, in order to better match the available funding.

The following are the top measures chosen by division management to gauge the success of its programs.

Funding Spent in Assessing Energy and Mineral Resources

Spending on Assessing Energy and Mineral Resources: The third measure tracks the division expenditures while identifying, inventorying, assessing, and encouraging the prudent development of Utah's minerals and energy.

Geologic Hazard Publications and Responses to Emergencies

Geologic Hazards Program: The second measure keeps track of the geologic hazard publications and the geologic hazard emergencies (such as earthquakes, landslides, debris flows, rock falls, and unstable ground) division staff has responded to over time.

Division management hopes that the number of geologic emergencies will be low, which would mean that Utah had few hazardous events. However, these events are driven more by nature than by division personnel.

Number of Geologic Publications

Publications: Statute requires the Utah Geological Survey to prepare, publish and distribute maps and reports of the geology of the state. This measure keeps track of UGS' publications, which include geologic maps, books, and reports.

Statute

The following laws govern operation of the division:

UCA 79-3-301 creates the Board of Utah Geological Survey. It consists of seven members with various backgrounds. The director of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration sits as an ex officio member.
UCA 79-3-205 allows survey employees to trespass on any lands while on official business.
UCA 79-3-502 prohibits anyone from excavating for critical paleontological resources on state/locally controlled land without first getting a permit from the survey.
UCA 79-3-402 creates a special revenue fund known as the "Utah Geological Survey Sample Library Fund" consisting of donations and interest. The director administers the fund. The division may only spend up to the amount of interest generated in the previous fiscal year.

Intent Language

HB0003: Item 106

Under the terms of 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided for the Utah Geological Survey in Item 14, Chapter 5, Laws of Utah 2014, shall not lapse at the close of FY 2015. Expenditures of these funds are limited to: Mineral Lease Projects $830,000; Computer Equipment/Software $60,000; Equipment/Supplies $40,000; Employee Training/Incentives $30,000.

HB0003: Item 106

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that $300,000 appropriated to assist with Geological Survey shortfall not lapse at the close of FY 2015.

Statute (UCA 59-21-1, 2) allocates 2.25% of the state's share of federal mineral lease royalties to the survey. These receipts are a crucial part of the division's revenue, and in recent years have ranged between 20% and 40% of the total budget, depending on current energy prices. Typically, mineral lease revenues follow a combination of natural gas and oil prices with a two-month lag, but are difficult to predict due to variable production reporting systems.

Statute (UCA 53C-3-203) also allocates 1.66% of all distributions made to the Land Exchange Distribution Account (established through H.B. 134 by the 2007 Legislature) to be made to the Utah Geological Survey, to be used for natural resources development in the state. Prior to that legislation, this funding was allocated to the Utah Geological Survey as part of its federal Mineral Lease royalties. Beginning with FY 2010, 1% of the deposits remaining in the account (after the appropriation is made in accordance with Subsection (4)(a) to UGS) is to be used for test wells, other hydrological studies, and air quality monitoring in the West Desert.

Special Funds

The figure below shows the activities of the fund over time, the appropriated amount for the current fiscal year, as well as the average revenues, expenditures, and balances.

LEDA

Display By:

Program

Funding Source

Expenditure Category

Appropriation Type:

Appropriation History by

Programs	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Administration	796,300	882,900	712,200	685,600	734,600	6,700	741,300	12,600	753,900
Technical Services	756,600	747,800	681,100	765,100	743,600	486,700	1,230,300	(286,100)	944,200
Geologic Hazards	1,308,100	1,263,000	1,237,700	1,312,900	1,298,400	102,200	1,400,600	(220,800)	1,179,800
Board	3,900	5,400	6,600	3,000	6,600	(1,200)	5,400	0	5,400
Geologic Mapping	1,173,600	1,055,800	1,018,300	1,035,200	1,080,000	(21,100)	1,058,900	(679,300)	379,600
Energy and Minerals	2,133,500	2,159,200	2,253,500	2,277,400	2,472,000	(899,000)	1,573,000	878,100	2,451,100
Ground Water and Paleontology	1,969,300	1,599,500	1,507,800	1,673,100	1,784,200	40,800	1,825,000	91,000	1,916,000
Information and Outreach	722,500	789,700	801,200	845,900	856,900	1,600	858,500	(5,400)	853,100
Total	$8,863,800	$8,503,300	$8,218,400	$8,598,200	$8,976,300	($283,300)	$8,693,000	($209,900)	$8,483,100

Sources of Finance	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
General Fund	2,481,900	2,464,000	2,509,700	2,597,400	2,775,100	0	2,775,100	271,400	3,046,500
General Fund, One-time	0	0	0	144,000	12,000	300,000	312,000	(286,700)	25,300
Federal Funds	1,340,600	965,500	628,600	853,100	1,228,800	2,900	1,231,700	(182,400)	1,049,300
Dedicated Credits Revenue	1,017,900	1,794,600	1,601,000	1,645,600	1,450,000	(330,400)	1,119,600	(279,000)	840,600
Federal Mineral Lease	2,936,200	3,280,400	2,885,900	3,584,400	3,407,200	(100,000)	3,307,200	(772,100)	2,535,100
GFR - Land Exchange Distribution Account	682,100	682,700	694,700	386,900	393,200	(313,100)	80,100	29,400	109,500
Beginning Nonlapsing	1,500,000	771,000	1,029,600	508,900	500,000	327,300	827,300	132,700	960,000
Closing Nonlapsing	(771,000)	(1,029,600)	(508,900)	(827,300)	(490,000)	(470,000)	(960,000)	876,800	(83,200)
Lapsing Balance	(323,900)	(425,300)	(622,200)	(294,800)	(300,000)	300,000	0	0	0
Total	$8,863,800	$8,503,300	$8,218,400	$8,598,200	$8,976,300	($283,300)	$8,693,000	($209,900)	$8,483,100

Categories of Expenditure	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Personnel Services	6,479,700	6,674,900	6,688,400	7,133,200	7,115,400	(162,700)	6,952,700	134,900	7,087,600
In-state Travel	65,900	66,200	57,500	47,800	57,500	34,300	91,800	700	92,500
Out-of-state Travel	41,100	34,700	32,900	32,600	32,900	34,400	67,300	(11,600)	55,700
Current Expense	1,066,500	583,100	538,700	531,900	856,500	(324,100)	532,400	(20,200)	512,200
DP Current Expense	329,100	301,100	276,800	372,600	289,900	147,500	437,400	(2,000)	435,400
DP Capital Outlay	0	0	14,000	0	14,000	(14,000)	0	0	0
Capital Outlay	205,900	0	0	69,400	0	0	0	0	0
Other Charges/Pass Thru	675,600	843,300	610,100	410,700	610,100	1,300	611,400	(311,700)	299,700
Total	$8,863,800	$8,503,300	$8,218,400	$8,598,200	$8,976,300	($283,300)	$8,693,000	($209,900)	$8,483,100

Show Table | Show Additional Information

Other Indicators	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Budgeted FTE	77	83	87.20	74.70	80.08	0.92	81	2	83
Actual FTE	81.20	82.40	78.80	80.20	0	0	0	0	0
Vehicles	2	2	2	2	2	0	2	0	2

COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.