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Environmental and Land Use Hearings Office

  Average Annual FTEs Near General Fund State Other Funds Total Funds
  (Dollars in Thousands)
Current Budget 22.7 7,791 898 8,689
2025-27 Maintenance Level 22.9 8,537 898 9,435
Difference from 2025-27 Original 0.20 746 0 746
% Change from 2025-27 Original 0.88% 9.6% 0.0% 8.6%

2025 Policy Other Changes

Staff for New Environmental Appeals 0.90 (104) 267 163
CCA Appropriation Adjustment (5.0) 0 (798) (798)
2025 Policy Other Changes Total (4.1) (104) (531) (635)

2025 Policy Comp Changes

Non-Rep General Wage Increase 0.0 182 0 182
Updated PEBB Rate 0.0 (5) 0 (5)
PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase 0.0 4 0 4
Pension Benefit Amortization 0.0 (12) 0 (12)
2025 Policy Comp Changes Total 0.0 169 0 169

2025 Policy Central Services Changes

Audit Services 0.0 1 0 1
Legal Services 0.0 5 0 5
WTS Central Services 0.0 5 0 5
DES Central Services 0.0 11 0 11
OFM Central Services 0.0 29 0 29
2025 Policy Central Services Changes Total 0.0 51 0 51
Total Policy Changes (4.1) 116 (531) (415)
2025-27 Policy Level 18.8 8,653 367 9,020
Difference from 2023-25 (3.9) 862 (531) 331
% Change from 2025-27 Original (17.2%) 11.1% (59.1%) 3.8%

Policy Changes

Staff for New Environmental Appeals

Recent legislation has increased the number and complexity of cases coming to the Pollution Control Hearings Board. Ongoing funding for Administrative Appeals Judge and Legal Assistant staffing are provided to perform appeal work generated by new legislation relating to polychlorinated biphenyls in consumer products, chemicals in cosmetics, and lead in cookware. New and existing funding is shifted on to the Model Toxics Control Operating Account. (General Fund - State, Model Toxics Control Operating Acct - State)

CCA Appropriation Adjustment

Fewer appeals relating to the Climate Commitment Act have arisen than previously expected. The agency’s expenditure authority is reduced to reflect the current number of appeals. (Climate Investment Account - State)

Non-Rep General Wage Increase

Funding is provided for wage increases for state employees who are not represented by a union or are not under a bargaining agreement that is subject to financial feasibility determination. It is sufficient for a general wage increase of 3%, effective July 1, 2025, and a general wage increase of 2%, effective July 1, 2026. This item includes both general government and higher education workers. (General Fund - State)

Updated PEBB Rate

This item adjusts the employer funding rate for public employee insurance benefits to reflect policy-level decision packages. It increases the rate by $8 per month in the first fiscal year and decreases the rate by $34 per month in the second fiscal year, compared to the maintenance-level update, for a total rate of $1,315 in the first year and $1,355 in the second year. (General Fund - State)

PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase

An adjustment is made for pension contribution rates, including to fund a benefit increase of 3%, up to a maximum of $110 per month for eligible Public Employees' and Teachers' Retirement Systems Plan 1 members. (General Fund - State)

Pension Benefit Amortization

An adjustment is made to the base pension rates, as set out in a proposed bill addressing the calculation of the base rate for the 2025–27 biennium, as well as amortization of Plan 1 benefit increases. (General Fund - State)

Audit Services

Adjustments are made for each agency's anticipated cost of audits performed by the State Auditor's Office. (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 is a two-year average and allows for analysis to incorporate unique agency circumstances. (General Fund - State)

WTS Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from Washington Technology Solutions for the Office of Cybersecurity, state network, enterprise and small agency IT services, enterprise architecture and data management, Microsoft 365 licenses, and other items. (General Fund - State)

DES Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from the Department of Enterprise Services for Capitol Campus costs; real estate, risk management, and small agency services; the Perry Street and Capitol Campus child care centers; enterprise applications, and other items. (General Fund - State)

OFM Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from the Office of Financial Management for existing statewide applications, the One Washington program, and other central services. See Chapter 11 of the 2025–27 OFM Budget Instructions for allocation methodologies. (General Fund - State)