Date: 02/10/2010
Final
Budget Briefing from the Department of Natural Resources
COMMITTEE ON JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
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07:33 AM -- Budget Briefing from the Department of Natural Resources
Jim Martin, Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), introduced himself and his staff. He described some of the department's priority issues which include funding the Division of State Parks and Recreation, implementing the new rules promulgated by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and processing permitting applications for water produced from coalbed methane wells. Mr. Martin answered questions from the committee.
07:44 AM
Bill Levine, DNR Budget Director, discussed the department's FY 2010-11 budget request (Attachment A). He discussed some of the department's decision items listed on the first page of Attachment A.
07:48 AM
Jim Martain responded to a question about how to minimize CWCB's legal obligations relating to protecting the state's instream flow rights. Bill Levine also explained the funding source for CWCB legal services.
07:51 AM
Mr. Levine continued to discuss DNR's decision items in Attachment A. He explained decision items rincluding leased space adjustments, the State Land Board, the State Parks capital line item consolidation and capital reorganization, and revenue for the satellite monitoring system. He answered questions from the committee about the satellite monitoring program and efforts to collect contributions from users of the system.
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07:58 AM
In response to questions from the committee, Mr. Levine explained how stream gauges and the sattelitemonitoring system operates. He continued discussing non-prioritized decision items in Attachment A. He explained the increased severance tax allocation to the Division of State Parks and Recreation. He also discussed a position that will be eliminated from the DNR Executive Director's Office and positions in the Division of Water Resources that will be eliminated through a supplemental bill.
08:09 AM
Mr. Levine explained a spreadsheet of the Operational Account of the Severance Tax Trust Fund on page 3 of Attachment A. He explained programs that are funded under Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the account as well as the account's reserve requirements.
08:19 AM
Mr. Levine discussed House Bill 10-1326, which refinances the Division of State Parks and Recreation.
08:23 AM
Mr. Levine discussed the Severance Tax Perpetual Base Account cash fund report on page 5 of Attachment A.
08:30 AM
Mr. Levine discussed the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) Construction Fund cash fund report on page 7 of Attachment A. He explained that there will not be any money available for new loans out of the account this fiscal year.
08:34 AM
Jennifer Gimble, Director of the CWCB, discussed the impact of the transfer from the fund to the General Fund. She explained the process for disbursing funding for a CWCB loan. She answered questions about specific projects funded by the CWCB.
08:42 AM
Ms. Gimble discussed the Water Supply Reserve Account activities and dispersal of funds from the account.
08:43 AM
The committee adjourned.