Watch the Dec. 8th AM Testimony

Watch the Dec. 8th PM Testimony

Watch the Dec. 9th AM Testimony

Watch the Dec. 9th PM Testimony

Governor Gordon reported that due to better than expected revenue, a total of $913 Million in the General Fund Reserve Account would be available for his budget recommendations.

Some highlights of the Governor’s budget recommendations include:

·     $412 Million for the Permanent Mineral Trust Fund

·     $4.3 Million for the Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account

·     $68 Million for the Public Employee Trust

·     $5 Million for the Natural Resource Trust

·     $8 Million for the Cultural Trust

·     $35 Million for the Wyoming’s Tomorrow Trust

·     $248 million transferred to the Common School Permanent Land Trust for K-12 education.

·     $13.7 Million for combating inflationary costs (excluding employee compensation)

·     $1 Million for the Property Tax Refund Program

·     $26 Million for direct distribution to cities, towns, and counties

·     48.8 Million annually for employee compensation

·     $50 Million for capital construction projects that were already approved by the legislature and are being impacted by inflation

·     $70.4 Million for K-12 education

·     $30 Million for Business Ready Communities aimed at recruiting, retaining, and growing Wyoming businesses

·     $50 Million in energy matching funds to expand the usage of fossil fuels including expanding the budgets of the Wyoming Energy Authority and the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources

·     $469k for the Public Service Commission

·     $659k for the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality

·     $22 Million for nursing facilities that help Wyoming’s most vulnerable residents

·     $2.8 Million for Wyoming Home Services program that allows residents who require care to age in their homes

·     $1.8 Million for child dental services

·     $2.4 Million for the Adult Community Corrections Program bed expansion to relieve some pressure at the State Penitentiary

·     $7.8 Million to protect vulnerable state software from cyber attacks

·     $500k for the State Engineer for hydrological modeling of the Green River and Little Snake River basins

·     $613k for the Office of State Lands and Investments for additional staffing to increase capacity and public transparency/communications

·     $1.48 Million to help reduce wildlife and livestock losses to predators through the Animal Damage Management Program.

·     $1.5 Million dollars for an invasive species management account

Governor Gordon also highlighted the work he and his office is doing alongside the Wyoming Business Alliance on mental health. He mentioned wanting to have more funding available to expand capacity at state facilities and prioritize care for those who are in need. He included the following in his budget to help address mental health services in Wyoming:

·     $5 Million for Behavioral Health Redesign the legislature has been contemplating

·     $161k to help increase the number of certified mental health providers in Wyoming

Reference Materials:

·     600 900 Series FY2022

·     600 900 Series FY2023 Q1

The Joint Appropriations Committee went over the Department of Information and Administration’s budget and heard testimony from department staff to answer questions and provide additional information. Conversations focused mainly on software maintenance and upgrade costs, security concerns at state office buildings, and the department’s unfunded liabilities.

Reference Materials:

·     600 900 Series FY2022

·     600 900 Series FY2023 Q1

The Joint Appropriations Committee heard testimony about the State Fairgrounds Masterplan and heard an update about the current condition and operation of the Wyoming State Fair.

Reference Materials:

·     WY State Fair Master Plan

·     State Fair Update 2022

The Joint Appropriations Committee received testimony from the Wyoming Business Council with updates on several of their projects and an outline of their supplemental budget requests.

Reference Materials:

·     085 – WBC – 039 – 600 900 Series FY2022.pdf

·     085 – WBC – 040 – 600 900 Series FY2023 Q1.pdf

·     085 – WBC – 041 – WBC JAC Presentation.pdf

·     085 -WBC – 046 WBC Vacancy Report.pdf

The Joint Appropriations Committee received testimony from Wyoming Retirement System on a general update and to review their supplemental budget request.

Reference Materials:

·     900 Expenditures FY2022-2023

The Joint Appropriations Committee heard testimony from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality updating them on their work as well as going over their supplemental budget requests.

Reference Materials:

·     600 900 Series FY2022

·     600 900 Series FY2023 Q1

The Joint Appropriations Committee heard testimony from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department updating them on their work as well as going over their supplemental budget requests.

Reference Materials:

·     FY2023 Operating Budget

The Joint Appropriations Committee heard testimony from the Wyoming Community College Commission updating them on their work as well as going over their supplemental budget requests. Wyoming’s Tomorrow Scholarship was also discussed by the committee.

Reference Materials:

·     057 – WCCC – 042 – 600__900_Series For FY2022.pdf

·     057 – WCCC – 043 – 600 900 Series FY2023 Q1.pdf

·     057 – WCCC – 044 – At A Glance Resource Report.pdf

·     057 – WCCC – 045 – WY PBS Annual Report.pdf

The Joint Appropriations Committee heard testimony from the President of the University of Wyoming giving them a general update on the University’s work as well as going over their supplemental budget requests.

Reference Materials:

·     067 – UW – 049 Supplemental.pdf

·     067 – UW – 050 Science Intiative Report.pdf

·     067 – UW – 052 – 600 900 Series for FY2022.pdf

·     067 – UW – 053 – 600 900 Series for FY2023 Q1.pdf

The Joint Appropriations Committee heard testimony from the Wyoming Military Department updating them on their work as well as going over their supplemental budget requests.

Reference Materials:

·     600 900 Series for FY2022

·     600 900 Series for FY2023 Q1

The Joint Appropriations Committee heard testimony from the Wyoming Attorney Generals Office updating them on their work as well as going over their supplemental budget requests.

Reference Materials:

·     015 – AG – 047 600 900 Series for FY2022.xlsx

·     015 – AG – 048 600 900 Series for FY2023 thru Oct 2022.xlsx

The Joint Appropriations Committee heard testimony from the Wyoming Supreme Court Attorney Generals Office about their judicial exemptions requests as well as their supplemental budget requests.

Reference Materials:

·     Judicial Exception Requests Summary

·     600 900 Series FY2022

·     600 900 Series FY2023 Q1

·     2022 Treatment Court Consultant Letter

The Joint Appropriations Committee heard testimony from the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services updating them on their work as well as going over their supplemental budget requests.