FY 2006-07 NATURAL RESOURCES BUDGET S.B. 1094 (S-1): SENATE-PASSED






Senate Bill 1094 (S-1 as passed by the Senate)
Committee: Appropriations

FY 2005-06 Year-to-Date Gross Appropriation $272,943,100
Changes from FY 2005-06 Year-to-Date:
  1. State Park Revenue Increase. An increase in camping fees became effective Jan. 1, 2006. The Senate included an additional appropriation for State parks to reflect the new revenue. 3,500,000
2. Purchased Land Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT). For purchased land PILT, the budget restored $350,000 GF/GP compared to a reduction enacted in FY 2005-06. This program also included $170,000 GF/GP for special payments to counties related to the advancement of county mill collections for revenue sharing purposes. This would be the third year of a 3-year schedule for the special payments. 520,000
3. Coast Guard Funding. The budget included Federal funding from the United States Coast Guard for enforcement of commercial fishing laws and marine safety grants. 2,940,000
4. Forestry Fund Shift. In the Forest Fire Protection program, the Governor recommended a reduction of $1,500,000 GF/GP to be replaced with revenue from the Forest Development Fund. There would be no change to the total budget for the program or to the program operations. The Senate concurred. 0
5. General Fund Reduction and Fund Shift. To meet reduced General Fund revenue projections, the Senate replaced a General Fund reduction of $327,100 with revenue from the Forest Development Fund for forest fire protection. 0
6. Project F.I.S.H. The Senate provided funding from the Game and Fish Protection Fund as a grant to this program promoting sport fishing. 25,000
7. Kalamazoo River Dams. The Senate added funding from the Clean Michigan Initiative-Clean Water Fund for the removal of 3 dams on the Kalamazoo River. 2,000,000
8. Accessibility Grants. The Senate added private funds from the Kellogg Foundation to improve access at State parks for disabled persons. 1,000,000
9. Sportsmen Against Hunger. Established in 2005, this program allows donations to the Sportsmen Against Hunger Fund when purchasing a hunting license. The budget included an initial appropriation from the Fund to pay for the processing and distribution of donated game. 250,000
10. Human Resource (HR) Changes. Costs related to the HR optimization process and the operation of the service center are included in the Senate budget. 70,100
11. Economic Adjustments. The budget included economic adjustments for worker's compensation, building occupancy charges, salaries and fringe benefits, and information technology. 6,472,800
12. Other Changes. The budget made other adjustments to reflect actual revenue anticipated, changes in Federal grant awards, and debt services on revenue bonds. The Senate added funding for docks in Bay City State Park, a bobcat study, and repair of the Petoskey breakwall. 842,200
13. Comparison to Governor's Recommendation. The Senate Substitute budget is $3,545,000 Gross over and $327,100 GF/GP under the Governor's recommended budget.
Total Changes $17,620,100
  FY 2006-07 Senate Gross Appropriation $290,563,200
FY 2006-07 NATURAL RESOURCES BUDGET BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS

Changes from FY 2005-06 Year to Date:
  1. Sections Removed. The Governor and Senate removed language addressing an administrative cost allocation, turkey hunting licenses, State park corporate sponsorship, the adopt-a-forest program, staff for timber marking, privatization project plans, bobcat populations, and ORV trail development.
2. Sections Retained. The Senate retained language addressing grant and loan programs, game and fish appropriations, Waterways Commission activities, a prohibition on disciplinary action, fish advisory information, land transactions, a prohibition to impede water control structures, construction projects in State parks, defibrillators in State parks, misuse of free day passes, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, a Gaylord-Cheboygan snowmobile trail, timber marking in State forests, snowmobile law enforcement grants, and Federal land and water conservation funds. (Secs. 208, 209, 210, 216, 404, 405, 601, 702, 703, 704, 705, 803, 806, 901, and 1102)
3. Report on GF/GP Reductions. The Senate added language requiring a list of GF/GP budget reductions of 7.93% if the K-16 Ballot Initiative is adopted. (Sec. 217)
4. Aircraft Use. The Senate prohibited the use of State aircraft by institutions of higher education, legislative staff without prior approval, local government employees. (Sec. 218)
5. Deprived and Depressed. The Senate included language recommended by the Governor directing the Department to ensure businesses in deprived and depressed areas compete for contracts. (Sec. 219)
6. Contingency Funds. The Senate did not include language recommended by the Governor authorizing contingency fund appropriations of $3.0 million Federal, $5.0 million State restricted, $100,000 local, and $500,000 private funds.
7. Project F.I.S.H. The Senate directed the Department to collaborate with Project F.I.S.H. to increase the number of anglers and submit a cost benefit analysis of the effectiveness of the program. (Sec. 301)
8. Indemnification Payments. The Senate added cougars to the list of predators for these payments. (Sec. 501)
9. Cormorant Action Plan. Directed the Department to execute the plan submitted on Dec. 28, 2005. (Sec. 503)
10. Bobcat Study. The Senate directed the Department to conduct a study of the bobcat population and develop science-based hunting quotas in the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. (Sec. 508)
11. Kalamazoo River Dams. The Senate designated $2.0 million in Part 1 for the removal of the Otsego, Plainwell, and Trowbridge dams on the Kalamazoo River. States that this would not preclude the Department from pursuing cost recovery from responsible parties. (Sec. 603)
12. Island Lake Shooting Range. The Senate required the Department to have an engineer study and design range modifications to mitigate sound from the shooting range. (Sec. 706)
13. Boating Access Improvement Plans. The Senate directed the Department to work with the Waterways Commission to develop short and long term plans to improve boating access throughout the State. (Sec. 707)
14. Bay City State Park Docks. The Senate specified that the appropriation for this State park is for floating docks for recreation and barrier-free access. (Sec. 708)
15. Petoskey Breakwall. Prohibits expenditure unless Federal government agrees to repay the Waterways Fund for repairs. (Sec. 709)
16. Additional Foresters. Directed the Department to employ or contract additional foresters to mark timber. (Sec. 805)
17. Forest Finance Authority Project. The Senate required a report on the planned use, expenditure, and action taken by the Forest Finance Authority regarding the $26.0 million grant from the 21st Century Jobs Trust Fund. Specified categories for reporting. (Sec. 807)
18. PILT Special Payments. The Senate included language designating $170,000 in funding in Part 1 for special payments to counties with a fiscal year ending Sept. 30 to compensate for reduced purchased land payments in lieu of taxes related to the county revenue sharing provisions enacted in 2005. (Sec. 1001)
19. Marine Safety Grants. Prioritized funding for equipment grants to counties with 2 or less boats. (Sec. 1103)
20. ORV Trail Development. The Senate directed the Department to spend not less than $100 on the development of new ORV trails according to the plan created in FY 2005-06. (Sec. 1104)
Date Completed: 5-24-06 Fiscal Analyst: Jessica Runnels Bill Analysis @ http://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations. hidnr_sp.doc