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Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council

  Average Annual FTEs Near General Fund State Other Funds Total Funds
  (Dollars in Thousands)
Current Budget 11.3 776 13,116 13,892
2023-25 Maintenance Level 22.6 1,703 26,253 27,956
Difference from 2023-25 Original 11.3 927 13,137 14,064
% Change from 2023-25 Original 100.0% 119.5% 100.2% 101.2%

2023 Policy Other Changes

Position Funding for Green Energy 6.0 0 2,665 2,665
Transmission Corridor Studies 0.0 0 200 200
Tribal and Green Energy Programs 0.0 0 882 882
2023 Policy Other Changes Total 6.0 0 3,747 3,747

2023 Policy Comp Changes

State Employee Benefits 0.0 0 3 3
WFSE General Government 0.0 0 96 96
Rep Employee Health Benefits 0.0 0 3 3
Non-Rep Recruitment/Retention 0.0 8 0 8
Non-Rep General Wage Increase 0.0 0 107 107
PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase 0.0 0 4 4
Vaccine Booster Incentive 0.0 0 7 7
2023 Policy Comp Changes Total 0.0 8 220 228

2023 Policy Central Services Changes

Administrative Hearings 0.0 2 0 2
DES Central Services 0.0 152 0 152
2023 Policy Central Services Changes Total 0.0 154 0 154
Total Policy Changes 6.0 162 3,967 4,129
2023-25 Policy Level 28.6 1,865 30,220 32,085
Difference from 2021-23 17.3 1,089 17,104 18,193
% Change from 2023-25 Original 153.1% 140.3% 130.4% 131.0%

Policy Changes

Position Funding for Green Energy

The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) anticipates three to five new energy project applications before July 2023, and an average application rate of three to five projects each year in the future. EFSEC is understaffed to handle current and future workload requirements. Additional ongoing funding is provided to support staff positions needed to ensure entry costs remain competitive to continue to attract energy producers to the state. (Climate Commitment Account - State, Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Private/Local, Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Local)

Transmission Corridor Studies

The 2021 Legislature provided funding for the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council to participate in a transmission corridor work group and to submit a report outlining Washington’s needs for future power demands, how electricity will be transferred across the state, and efforts to decarbonize energy production. Funding is provided for consultant work and staff time to determine the next steps to achieve principles outlined in the Transmission Corridor Work Group report to support transmission corridor work to ensure a stable and reliable electrical grid for Washington’s future. (Climate Commitment Account - State)

Tribal and Green Energy Programs

The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) was given jurisdiction over green hydrogen and clean energy projects and was directed to consult with impacted tribes in the 2021 legislative session. EFSEC does not have experienced staff resources for these new energy types and will require significant outside support. Funding is provided for a contractor to develop criteria to support pre-application efforts for siting clean energy-producing projects and to provide grants to Tribes to support application review. Additional funding is provided to further develop the siting programs for clean energy projects to develop all scientific, environmental and operational aspects of these programs. (Climate Commitment Account - State, Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Private/Local, Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Local)

State Employee Benefits

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 $1,160 per employee per month for fiscal year 2024 and $1,233 per employee per month for fiscal year 2025. (Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Local, Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Private/Local)

WFSE General Government

Funding is provided for a general wage increase of 4%, effective July 1, 2023; a general wage increase of 3%, effective July 1, 2024; targeted job classification base range increases; recognition and retention lump sum payments for employees employed on or before July 1, 2022 and continuously employed through July 1, 2023; shift premium increase for eligible shifts from $1 to $2.50 per eligible hour; a COVID-19 booster incentive of $1,000; supplemental shift premium increases for nurse classifications; 5% premium pay for employees who are assigned to a facility that provides direct care to residents, patients and/or clients and whose duties are required to be performed on location; and an increase of $250 to the annual lump sum payment for Labor and Industries risk classes 7200/7201. (Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Private/Local, Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Local)

Rep Employee Health Benefits

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 $1,160 per employee per month for fiscal year 2024 and $1,233 per employee per month for fiscal year 2025. (Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Private/Local, Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Local)

Non-Rep Recruitment/Retention

Funding is provided for recognition and retention lump sum payments for employees employed on or before July 1, 2022 and continuously employed through July 1, 2023. (General Fund - State)

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 4 percent, effective July 1, 2023 and a general wage increase of 3 percent, effective July 1, 2024. This item includes both general government and higher education workers. (Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Private/Local, Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Local)

PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase

For eligible Public Employees' and Teachers' Retirement Systems Plan 1 members, this item provides an increase of 3%, up to a maximum of $110 per month. (Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Private/Local, Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Local)

Vaccine Booster Incentive

Funding is provided for a $1,000 lump sum COVID-19 booster incentive for non-represented employees. This funding does not cover institutions of higher education. (Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Private/Local, Evergy Facility Eval Council Acct - Local)

Administrative Hearings

Adjustments are made for each agency's anticipated cost of hearings performed by the Office of Administrative Hearings. (General Fund - State)

DES Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) for campus rent, parking, contracts, and security; capital project surcharges; financing cost recovery; public and historic facilities; real estate services; risk management services; personnel service rates; the Perry Street and Capitol Campus child care centers; small agency services; and the department's enterprise applications. See Chapter 11 of the 2023-25 OFM Budget Instructions for allocation methodologies. (General Fund - State)