For the past several weeks, the bipartisan Budget Conference Committee has been reviewing the Governor's proposed budget, hearing testimony, and crafting its own proposals to close the estimated $24 billion budget gap. This week, the Conference Committee voted to cut billions of dollars from education, social safety net programs, and state prisons. They also acted on two key environmental issues - California's state parks and offshore oil drilling. 

The Conference Committee voted to eliminate $70 million for the state parks system for the next fiscal year. However, in an effort to keep the parks open, the committee voted to adopt the State Park Access Pass Program. This program mandates a $15 tax on non-commercial vehicle license fees, giving California citizens free day-use access to state parks, and the state an estimated $400 million in revenue. The new revenue would cover the $143 million state parks budget, allocate additional funding to the parks system, create jobs, and leave $140-145 million to the general fund.

Unfortunately, Governor Schwarzenegger has said he wants the state parks budget cuts, but does not believe the Park Access Pass Program is the best way to keep the parks open. Please call the Governor and ask him to support of the State Park Access Pass Program to keep our parks open!

The Conference Committee also voted to reject the Governor's attempt to approve a new offshore oil drilling plan in Santa Barbara. The drilling plan was rejected by the State Lands Commission earlier this year. The three-member commission, made up of the Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, State Controller John Chiang, and Director of the Department of Finance Michael Genest, determined on a 2-1 vote that the environmental costs of new drilling off our coasts was not worth the potential revenue. Only Director Genest supported the proposal. After the vote, the Governor proposed to allow the Department of Finance to make the final determination. On a party-line vote, the Conference Committee decided that there were still significant problems with the drilling plan, not to mention the fact that this attempt to go around the State Lands Commission is simply bad government.

Over the next several weeks the Conference Committee will continue to finalize a budget package. Afterwards the "Big Five" (Governor Schwarzenegger and leaders of both parties from the Senate and Assembly) will begin negotiations to resolve some of the issues where Democrats and Republicans remain split. The final budget proposal will then be voted on by both the Assembly and the Senate and be signed by the Governor.

In addition to reading the PCL Insider, you can stay up-to-date on the budget debate by reading the blog posts of Assemblymember Noreen Evans, Chair of the Budget Conference Committee, or reviewing the Senate Majority Caucus website dedicated to the budget process.

BUDGET DEBATE: DUELING PROPOSALS AIM TO REORGANIZE STATE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES

One proposal batted around to help close the estimated $24 billion budget gap is to reorganize the roles and functions of our state agencies. On its face, reshuffling government agencies seems like an excellent idea, especially if the state can eliminate wasteful spending and ensure that we're prioritizing issues that Californians support, like cleaning up our air and providing clean drinking water. However, it could mean fewer resources and less accountability. Recent reorganization proposals from the Governor and legislative leaders highlight these tensions:

Governor Schwarzenegger has made headlines by calling for the elimination of the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) and proposing to divide its duties between the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the Department of Conservation's Division of Recycling (DOC). While consolidating recycling and waste management efforts could save approximately $2 million in special funds (generated by fees), it would not save any money from the general fund and would therefore not help fill the budget gap. And since DTSC and DOC are departments with limited public input, abolishing the board structure has the additional effect of eliminating public participation in recycling and waste management decisions. 

Under the alternative proposal developed by two legislative committees, the CIWMB would still be abolished and its functions absorbed by DTSC and DOR, but functions related to the Department of Public Health would reside with a new 5-member board. This board would operate full time and have policy development, oversight, and appellate functions over solid waste, hazardous waste, low-level radioactive waste, and California's recycling "Bottle Bill." The alternative proposal would also eliminate duplicative high-level executive positions and related staff and consolidate field offices, which would result in a savings of approximately $8.8 million in special funds.

The Governor also proposes to eliminate the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) as a state department and realign its functions into a regional entity. This move would save approximately $4.1 million, although the Administration has already agreed to fully fund BCDC for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. Under the Legislature's proposal, BCDC would remain a state department. If BCDC is transformed into a regional entity, the Legislature may lose its appointment and oversight authority of the BCDC's 27-member board. Most importantly, it could threaten BCDC's long string of accomplishments, including protection for thousands of acres of wetlands, dramatic improvements in water quality, and creation of hundreds of miles of public access ways.

Under both the Governor's proposal and the alternative proposal, the Department of Boating and Waterways programs and functions would be transferred to the Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) perhaps as a division of DPR, similar to the way in which the Off Highway Vehicle division now operates. This proposal would also save an estimated $600,000 in special funds.

Perhaps the largest change to the state environmental agency landscape is the Senate's proposal to create a new Department of Natural Resources and Wildlife (DNRW). As part of this proposal, the Department of Fish and Game, the non-recycling function of the Department of Conservation, and the forestry and resource management responsibilities of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection would be consolidated into the new DNRW. While the savings associated with this proposal are currently unknown, consolidating conservation and natural resource protection functions into a single department could have significant potential to increase efficiency and improve environmental outcomes.

Because most of these proposals would have relatively little effect on the general fund, they will likely be shelved until next January, giving the Legislature and the Governor more time to wrestle with the immediate budget crisis.

PCL & PCL FOUNDATION CELEBRATE SUCCESSFUL LAND USE SUMMIT FOR SACRAMENTO REGION

Last Monday, PCL and the PCL Foundation co-hosted a successful land use summit for environmental and social equity advocates in the Sacramento region. Entitled "Mapping Opportunities, Choosing Directions," the summit explored California's new land use policy landscape and its ramifications for the six-county Sacramento metropolitan region. At the top of agenda was recently enacted SB 375 (2008, Steinberg), which aims to better link California's land use, transportation, and housing decisions to fight global warming.

Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg kicked off the summit with several pieces of sage advice, including a call for activists to "choose one thing and do it well." Other speakers included environmental attorney Bill Yeates, Brian Augusta of California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, Pilar Lorenzana-Campo of Public Health Law and Policy, and Graham Brownstein of the Environmental Council of Sacramento. Summit participants spent the afternoon crafting a common vision of successful SB 375 implementation in the Sacramento region and identifying strategies to effectively collaborate to achieve that vision. Many participants were particularly interested in shaping the next Regional Transportation Plan, due in 2012, to achieve strong equity and environmental outcomes.

We look forward to helping the Sacramento region build on the momentum from the summit. Many thanks to all the speakers, participants, sponsors, and especially our co-hosts the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) and the Coalition on Regional Equity (CORE)!