Governor’s Budget seeks funds for Air and Mercury

 

Governor Jon Huntsman’s proposed $11.7 billion budget for next year would provide additional ongoing General Fund money to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to address air and mercury pollution.

Huntsman has made air quality one of his top priorities for the remainder of his administration. The proposed fiscal year 2008-09 reflects that.

“We are pleased with the Governor’s support for DEQ,” said Rick Sprott, executive director of DEQ. “We are hopeful the 2008 Legislature will recognize the need for additional money to address air quality and mercury concerns.”

The Governor proposes supporting the Division of Air Quality with a $2.5 million increase of ongoing General Fund money. That money would be spent to purchase additional equipment to monitor air pollution and develop plans to meet tougher federal air quality pollution standards.

In addition, the Governor’s proposed budget includes providing the Division of Water Quality with an additional $62,000 of ongoing General Fund money to address mercury contamination in Utah’s waterways. Also, another $100,000 one-time General Fund money would be provided to the Division of Air Quality to purchase new mercury monitoring equipment to track and monitor airborne mercury and an additional $19,500 of ongoing General Fund money to maintain and operate the equipment.

“Essential responsibilities of the State include keeping our families safe and maintaining a high quality of life,” Huntsman said in his budget message. “As such, my budget calls for greater investment into improving our air quality and making government facilities more energy efficient.”

Governor Huntsman has proposed investing $5 million to increase energy efficiency of state buildings and $2.4 million to buy hybrid vehicles for the state fleets.

During the 2008 Legislature’s 45-day session, which begins January 15, lawmakers will work with the Governor to finalize a budget that also includes increased spending for education, public safety and roads.

The Governor has recommended the Department be funded as follows:

DEQ receives a small percentage of financing from the General Fund. With the proposed increases within the FY2009 budget, DEQ would receive 28 percent of its budget from the General Fund. The remainder of DEQ’s overall budget is funded by a combination of federal funds (34 percent), restricted funds (21 percent) and collections (17 percent).

Governor Huntsman also has recommended a 3 percent cost-of-living increase for all state employees and another $12.3 million has been set aside for discretionary salary increases that would allow agency directors to provide raises to exceptional employees.