State Conservation Commission
| Average Annual FTEs | Near General Fund State | Other Funds | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in Thousands) | ||||
| Current Budget | 23.6 | 30,594 | 27,156 | 57,750 |
| 2023-25 Maintenance Level | 28.0 | 29,678 | 12,081 | 41,759 |
| Difference from 2023-25 Original | 4.4 | (916) | (15,075) | (15,991) |
| % Change from 2023-25 Original | 18.6% | (3.0%) | (55.5%) | (27.7%) |
2023 Policy Other Changes |
||||
| Community Engagement Plan | 0.0 | 0 | 250 | 250 |
| Conservation Technical Assistance | 0.0 | 10,000 | 0 | 10,000 |
| Salmon Riparian Restoration Program | 0.50 | 3,000 | 0 | 3,000 |
| Forest Health & Community Wildfire | 1.5 | 0 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Science Hub for Agriculture | 1.0 | 1,250 | 0 | 1,250 |
| Disaster Assistance Program | 1.0 | 600 | 0 | 600 |
| Voluntary Stewardship Program | 1.0 | 0 | 1,420 | 1,420 |
| Riparian Education | 1.0 | 2,000 | 0 | 2,000 |
| 2023 Policy Other Changes Total | 6.0 | 16,850 | 6,670 | 23,520 |
2023 Policy Comp Changes |
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| State Employee Benefits | 0.0 | 9 | 2 | 11 |
| Non-Rep Recruitment/Retention | 0.0 | 23 | 4 | 27 |
| Non-Rep General Wage Increase | 0.0 | 259 | 47 | 306 |
| PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase | 0.0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Vaccine Booster Incentive | 0.0 | 20 | 3 | 23 |
| 2023 Policy Comp Changes Total | 0.0 | 315 | 56 | 371 |
2023 Policy Central Services Changes |
||||
| State Data Center | 0.0 | (1) | 0 | (1) |
| Legal Services | 0.0 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| CTS Central Services | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| DES Central Services | 0.0 | 52 | 0 | 52 |
| OFM Central Services | 0.0 | 38 | 0 | 38 |
| GOV Central Services | 0.0 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2023 Policy Central Services Changes Total | 0.0 | 106 | 0 | 106 |
| Total Policy Changes | 6.0 | 17,271 | 6,726 | 23,997 |
| 2023-25 Policy Level | 34.0 | 46,949 | 18,807 | 65,756 |
| Difference from 2021-23 | 10.4 | 16,355 | (8,349) | 8,006 |
| % Change from 2023-25 Original | 44.1% | 53.5% | (30.7%) | 13.9% |
Policy Changes
Community Engagement Plan
The state Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act of 2021 created environmental justice requirements for certain agencies. The state Climate Commitment Act (CCA), also enacted in 2021, requires agencies that expend from the newly created climate accounts complete community engagement plans to describe how they will engage with overburdened communities and vulnerable populations. Funding is provided for the agency to complete the required community engagement plan. (Climate Investment Account - State)
Conservation Technical Assistance
Conservation practices by landowners are critical in the state's strategy to address multiple environmental crises. Conservation districts are trusted, non-regulatory entities uniquely positioned to develop local relationships and provide site-specific expertise regarding habitat restoration, farm planning, range management, nutrient management, urban agriculture, local food systems and access. Technical assistance to landowners to enhance conservation efforts is increased. (General Fund - State)
Salmon Riparian Restoration Program
Originally funded in the 2020 supplemental budget, riparian restoration work is critical for salmon recovery, water quality and ecosystem health. Funding will provide outreach, identification, and implementation of salmon riparian habitat restoration projects supported by the capital budget. (General Fund - State, Salmon Recovery Account - State)
Forest Health & Community Wildfire
The Department of Natural Resources contracts with the Conservation Commission and conservation districts to address unhealthy forests and build greater community resiliency to wildfire. This directly transfers funding from the Department of Natural Resources to the commission to increase efficiency and reduce delays in implementation. (Wildfire Resp Forest Restor & Comm - State)
Science Hub for Agriculture
Voluntary incentive programs to achieve conservation goals are preferred over regulatory actions by both the state and public. Funding is provided to connect scientists and practitioners to monitor and better quantify the benefits of agricultural Best Management Plans (BMPs) using adaptive management principles. Work will also be undertaken to better understand landowner motivations and determine the best approaches for reaching the desired outcomes. (General Fund - State)
Disaster Assistance Program
In the event of natural disaster, state and federal financial recovery assistance is historically delayed. The Legislature created the disaster assistance program in the 2022 legislative session to provide short-term financial support for farmers and ranchers during disasters. Funding is provided to support the continued development of the disaster assistance program. (General Fund - State)
Voluntary Stewardship Program
Counties are actively implementing state-approved Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) work plans and must monitor and report on progress toward goals and benchmarks. This funding supports critical monitoring and reporting efforts necessary to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the VSP. (Public Works Assistance Account - State)
Riparian Education
Riparian zone habitat is crucial for water quality, salmon recovery, and ecosystem health. Funding is provided to develop and implement an education and communication plan for Washingtonians and landowners in urban, suburban, rural, agricultural and forested areas regarding the importance of riparian buffers and the actions they can take to protect and enhance these critical areas. (General Fund - State)
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. (Public Works Assistance Account - State, General Fund - State)
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. (Public Works Assistance Account - State, 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. (Public Works Assistance Account - State, General Fund - State)
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. (General Fund - State)
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. (General Fund - State, Public Works Assistance Account - State)
State Data Center
Adjustments are made for each agency's share of costs related to the State Data Center. (General Fund - State)
Legal Services
Adjustments are made for each agency's anticipated cost of legal services provided by the Attorney General's Office. Because legal services expenditures are based on consumption, funding provided in the central service model is not all inclusive. The methodology to estimate consumption has been updated from a three-year average to a two-year average and allows for analysis to incorporate unique agency circumstances. (General Fund - State)
CTS Central Services
Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from Consolidated Technology Services (CTS) for the Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office of Cybersecurity, state network, enterprise services, small agency IT services, security gateways, and geospatial imaging services. This amount now includes the total amount for agencies that use the Microsoft 365 shared tenant. See Chapter 11 of the 2023-25 OFM Budget Instructions for allocation methodologies. (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)
OFM Central Services
Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges for existing statewide applications, the One Washington program, and other central services provided by the Office of Financial Management. See Chapter 11 of the 2023-25 OFM Budget Instructions for allocation methodologies. (General Fund - State)
GOV Central Services
A new central service is created to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from the Office of the Governor for statewide policy staff and the Office of Equity. (General Fund - State)
