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Budget Snapshot 2011-13 (February 2011)

Natural Resource Agencies are 2.5% of the entire state budget and less than 1.2% of the General Fund budget. Since 2008, Natural Resource Agencies have taken a proportionally larger — 25% — budget reduction. Ecology, like other Natural Resource Agencies, has made big cuts in services and staff in the last two years to help address the General Fund shortfall:

• $224 million dollars of dedicated environmental funds redirected from cleanups and other environmental and public health projects throughout the state to offset the general fund shortfall.  View list of fund transfers (does not include transfers proposed in the Governor’s budget.)
• $44.7 million in targeted Ecology’s operating budget cuts during the 2009-11 biennium impacts our ability to protect the environment, human health and support economic development. View list of impacts on Ecology services
• 71 fewer authorized staff in the operating budget after the 2010 second supplemental budget than in 2007-09.
• Ecology’s general fund budget reduced by 21% after the 2010 second supplemental from 2007-09 levels. Governors’ 2011-13 proposal results in a 25% reduction from 2007-09 levels.

The December 11, 2010 Special Legislative Session reduced Ecology’s budget by $5.8 million and transferred $20 million in dedicated environmental accounts to the general fund. (These reductions and transfers are included in the information above.)

• View list of reductions to the operating budget

For the next biennium (2011-13), the Governor’s budget for Ecology includes:

• A $19.28 million reduction to General Funds including targeted, permanent program reductions and moving some activities to dedicated accounts. This makes General Funds available for education and health and human services priorities while maintaining critical environmental work, sustainable economic growth and jobs.
• $16.09 million in new investments essential to protect the environment, ensure public health and safety, support sustainable economic growth and create jobs. The new investments are fully supported by dedicated environmental funds, federal funds or direct charges to customers.
• Approximately 62% of the budget is passed through to local communities to address public health and environmental projects that create local jobs and support ongoing economic activity.
• The capital budget includes $379.5 million — fully supported by dedicated environmental and federal accounts — to continue long-term investments in local water quality and quantity projects, toxic cleanup projects, community waste management programs, and other toxic cleanup or reduction projects statewide. Puget Sound cleanup of toxic sites and grants to local communities to address stormwater are also funded with dedicated environmental accounts.
• $93.9 million in state building construction accounts (bonds) continue investments in Columbia River water supply projects, Yakima and Sunnyside water conservation and development projects, Green River & Mount Vernon Flood protection and grants to local communities for watershed plan implementation and water quality projects.
• Additional Fund Transfers to the General Fund from Ecology managed accounts:
   
  • $4 million Litter Account (continued from current biennium) ­
  • $7 million Cleanup Settlement Account (includes same pay-back provisions from current biennium ~ Sec. 952) ­
  • The GF-S transfer to the Flood Control Assistance Account (FCAAP) is reduced by $2 million, and the agency FCAAP appropriation is also reduced by this same amount.