Department of Agriculture
| Annual FTEs | General Fund State | Other Funds | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in Thousands) | ||||
| Estimated Expenditures | 877.6 | 34,353 | 167,255 | 201,608 |
| 2019-21 Maintenance Level | 881.7 | 34,482 | 169,491 | 203,973 |
| Difference from 2017-19 | 4.1 | 129 | 2,236 | 2,365 |
| % Change from 2017-19 | 0.47% | 0.38% | 1.3% | 1.2% |
2019-21 Policy Other Changes |
||||
| Electronic Tracking of Cattle | 0.0 | 0 | 698 | 698 |
| Spartina Program Reduction | 0.0 | 0 | (400) | (400) |
| Balance to Available Revenue | 0.0 | 0 | (36) | (36) |
| WA State Soil Health Initiative | 1.0 | 750 | 0 | 750 |
| Manure Risk Assessment | 0.40 | 200 | 0 | 200 |
| Shellfish Coordination | 0.70 | 0 | 250 | 250 |
| Pesticide Safety Education | 2.0 | 500 | 0 | 500 |
| WSDA Cannabis Program | 4.6 | 0 | 1,270 | 1,270 |
| Livestock Branding Inspection | 0.50 | 244 | (1,000) | (756) |
| State Data Center Transfer | 1.0 | 64 | 262 | 326 |
| 2019-21 Policy Other Changes Total | 10.2 | 1,758 | 1,044 | 2,802 |
2019-21 Policy Comp Changes |
||||
| State Public Employee Benefits Rate | 0.0 | 11 | 37 | 48 |
| WFSE General Government | 0.0 | 63 | 6,065 | 6,128 |
| State Rep Employee Benefits Rate | 0.0 | 7 | 67 | 74 |
| WPEA General Government | 0.0 | 324 | 275 | 599 |
| Non-Rep General Wage Increase | 0.0 | 533 | 1,849 | 2,382 |
| Non-Rep Premium Pay | 0.0 | 66 | 36 | 102 |
| Non-Rep Targeted Pay Increases | 0.0 | 44 | 205 | 249 |
| PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase | 0.0 | 22 | 106 | 128 |
| Non-Rep Salary Schedule Revision | 0.0 | 0 | 172 | 172 |
| Minimum wage remove double count | 0.0 | 0 | (2) | (2) |
| 2019-21 Policy Comp Changes Total | 0.0 | 1,070 | 8,810 | 9,880 |
2019-21 Policy Transfers Changes |
||||
| Orca Transit Pass Funding Transfer | 0.0 | (8) | (42) | (50) |
| Health Coalition FSA Fund Transfer | 0.0 | (6) | (132) | (138) |
| 2019-21 Policy Transfers Changes Total | 0.0 | (14) | (174) | (188) |
2019-21 Policy Central Services Changes |
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| Electric Vehicle Infrastructure | 0.0 | 28 | 38 | 66 |
| Archives/Records Management | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Audit Services | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Legal Services | 0.0 | 21 | 96 | 117 |
| CTS Central Services | 0.0 | (151) | (201) | (352) |
| DES Central Services | 0.0 | 29 | 89 | 118 |
| OFM Central Services | 0.0 | 302 | 400 | 702 |
| 2019-21 Policy Central Services Changes Total | 0.0 | 230 | 423 | 653 |
| Total Policy Changes | 10.2 | 3,044 | 10,103 | 13,147 |
| 2019-21 Policy Level | 891.9 | 37,526 | 179,594 | 217,120 |
| Difference from 2017-19 | 14.3 | 3,173 | 12,339 | 15,512 |
| % Change from 2017-19 | 1.6% | 9.2% | 7.4% | 7.7% |
Policy Changes
Electronic Tracking of Cattle
Contingent on passage of agency request legislation, additional funding is provided to expand the use of electronic tracking of cattle for animal health and disease traceability. Currently, the electronic tracking system is only available to identify unbranded dairy cattle that are sold or transferred to a different owner. The expansion will allow other cattle owners to register with the department and provide electronic reporting of any cattle transactions.
Spartina Program Reduction
The department coordinates statewide efforts to eradicate spartina and control invasive knotweed and other selected weeds. Funding to control spartina and other noxious weeds are reduced one-time to address a shortfall in the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account. The results will be a reduced level of work managing aquatic invasive species and noxious weeds.
Balance to Available Revenue
Ongoing funding is reduced in the Fair Account to align expenditures with available revenue. This will result in slightly reduced grants to 66 fairs across the state.
WA State Soil Health Initiative
Improving the health of agricultural soils can increase crop yield, improve food nutrients, enhance carbon sequestration and improve water quality. Ongoing funding is provided to the department to coordinate with Washington State University on developing best management practices for improving soil health across the diverse agricultural systems in Washington. A baseline of soil health will be developed statewide and research will be conducted with a focus on dryland agriculture in eastern Washington. Additional funding assistance will be pursued from federal grants and other sources.
Manure Risk Assessment
Washington has just over 350 dairies across the state. Environmental challenges have occurred around the movement and use of manure on the landscape. One-time funding is provided to the department, in cooperation with Washington State University, to complete a needed assessment of the risk to water quality from the application of manure on non-dairy properties. The results of the risk assessment will be used to determine whether additional requirements are needed when dairy manure is applied off the dairy farm.
Shellfish Coordination
Ongoing funding is provided to continue the department's shellfish coordinator position established as part of the Washington State Shellfish Initiative last biennium. The shellfish coordinator assists the industry with understanding the regulatory requirements of a shellfish farm and will work with regulatory agencies to identify ways to streamline the permit process for integrated pest management such as burrowing shrimp.
Pesticide Safety Education
The department trains agricultural workers on the proper use and disposal of pesticides. Training is provided in English and Spanish on pesticide laws and rules, worker protection standards, equipment use, and other related topics. The training program currently has a waiting list of more than two years. Expanding the program will also support efforts initiated in the 2018 legislative session to improve pesticide application safety. Expanding training opportunities will further support efforts to protect food, agricultural workers, and the environment.
WSDA Cannabis Program
Funding is provided to the department to conduct laboratory analysis of pesticide used with marijuana crops and administer pesticide registrations and compliance. The department currently conducts this work on behalf of the Liquor and Cannabis Board with funding from the dedicated marijuana account through an interagency agreement. Funding is provided directly to the department in the amount previously supported by the board.
Livestock Branding Inspection
Fees to cover the costs of inspecting cattle brands at the time of sale or transfer of cattle do not fully fund the program as required in state law. Contingent on passage of agency request legislation, the department's livestock brand inspection program is repealed. One-time funding is provided to cover the cost to sunset the program. Costs to administer the program are also removed from the department's budget.
State Data Center Transfer
One-time funding is provided to move the department's technology infrastructure to the state data center.
State Public Employee Benefits Rate
Health insurance funding is provided for state employees who are not represented by a union, who are covered by a bargaining agreement that is not subject to financial feasibility determination, or who are not part of the coalition of unions for health benefits. The insurance funding rate is $977 per employee per month for fiscal year 2020 and $978 per employee per month for fiscal year 2021.
WFSE General Government
Funding is provided for a collective bargaining agreement with the Washington Federation of State Employees - General Government. The agreement includes a general wage increase of 3 percent, effective July 1, 2019; a general wage increase of 3 percent, effective July 1, 2020; premium, shift, and other special pay changes, and increases in targeted job classifications. Employee insurance included in the agreement is displayed in a separate item.
State Rep Employee Benefits Rate
This provides health insurance funding as part of the master agreements for employees who bargain for health benefits as part of a coalition of unions. The insurance funding rate is $977 per employee per month for fiscal year 2020 and $978 per employee per month for fiscal year 2021.
WPEA General Government
Funding is provided for a collective bargaining agreement with the Washington Public Employees' Association - General Government. The agreement includes a general wage increase of 3 percent, effective July 1, 2019; a general wage increase of 3 percent, effective July 1, 2020; premium and standby pay changes, and increases in targeted job classifications. Employee insurance included in the agreement is displayed in a separate item.
Non-Rep General Wage Increase
Funding is provided for wage increases for state employees who are not represented by a union or who are covered by a bargaining agreement that is not subject to financial feasibility determination. It is sufficient for a general wage increase of 3 percent, effective July 1, 2019, and a general wage increase of 3 percent, effective July 1, 2020. This item includes both general government and higher education workers.
Non-Rep Premium Pay
Funding is provided for increases in premium pay for state employees who are not represented by a union or who are covered by a bargaining agreement that is not subject to financial feasibility determination. Funding is sufficient to support changes in shift differential, call back and standby pay, as well as a 5 percent increase for employees working in King County.
Non-Rep Targeted Pay Increases
Funding is provided for classified state employees who are not represented by a union for pay increases in specific job classes in alignment with other employees.
PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase
For eligible Public Employees' and Teachers' Retirement Systems Plan 1 members, this item provides a one-time, ongoing increase of 3 percent, up to a maximum of $62.50 per month.
Non-Rep Salary Schedule Revision
This funds a revised salary schedule for non-represented employees in information technology jobs, in alignment with other state employees.
Minimum wage remove double count
The statutory minimum wage is less than the proposed minimum state employee wage, so separate funding for the minimum is removed.
Orca Transit Pass Funding Transfer
This moves funding for employee transit passes from agencies to WSDOT, which administers the program. The transfer includes both funding added in 2019-21 for expanded access, as well as funding that was provided in the 2017-19 budget.
Health Coalition FSA Fund Transfer
This moves funding for negotiated medical flexible spending arrangements (FSA) from individual agency budgets. It will be provided to the Health Care Authority, which will administer the benefit.
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
Agency budgets are adjusted to reflect each agency's estimated portion of increased fee for service charges from the Department of Enterprise Services to expand electric vehicle infrastructure for the state Motor Pool fleet.
Archives/Records Management
Agency budgets are adjusted to reflect each agency's allocated share of charges for the state archives and state records center.
Audit Services
Agency budgets are adjusted to reflect each agency's allocated share of charges for state government audits.
Legal Services
Agency budgets are adjusted to reflect each agency's anticipated share of legal service charges.
CTS Central Services
Agency budgets are adjusted to reflect each agency's allocated share of charges from the Consolidated Technology Services Agency (WaTech) for the Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office of Cyber Security, state network, security gateways, and geospatial imaging services.
DES Central Services
Agency budgets are adjusted to reflect each agency's allocated share of charges from the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) for campus rent, utilities, parking, and contracts; a capital project surcharge; financing cost recovery; public and historic facilities; real estate services; risk management services; personnel service rates; the Perry Street child care center; and the department's enterprise applications.
OFM Central Services
Agency budgets are adjusted to reflect each agency's allocated share of charges from the Office of Financial Management (OFM) for the One Washington project and OFM enterprise systems.
