Joint Finance Committee continues meetings Tuesday

By Matt Bittle
Posted 2/16/21

The Joint Finance Committee heard from the Department of Agriculture earlier today as the third week of budget hearings got underway.

The meetings are held virtually through Zoom. Some legislators …

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Joint Finance Committee continues meetings Tuesday

Posted

DOVER — The Joint Finance Committee heard from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Tuesday as the third week of budget hearings got underway.

Lawmakers requested details on some specific programs and funding requests, covering topics like farmland preservation and climate change as they heard from the secretaries of DNREC and agriculture.

DNREC’s budget proposal totals $40.1 million in state General Fund dollars, or general tax revenue, plus another $103.5 million in fees and other funding collected by DNREC. There’s also nearly $48 million in what’s called non-appropriated special funds, which can be used as the agency sees fit without prior approval from lawmakers. Those consist mostly of federal dollars.

Among the priorities in the DNREC budget is $270,000 to put in place the Delaware Climate Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and hopefully transition the state toward clean energy. That money will also be used to plant a million trees over the next decade, one for every resident of the First State, an initiative of Gov. John Carney’s.

The meetings are held virtually through Zoom. Some legislators and a few staffers are in Legislative Hall, but everyone else is participating from their homes or offices.

The Department of Justice and Department of Education will go before the committee today, with the Office of Defense Services and the judiciary getting their time in the spotlight Thursday. The initial JFC hearings then wrap up next week with the Department of Health and Social Services, which is spread over three days.

To participate, go  here and select the appropriate meeting date.

Lawmakers return to session March 9. Like January’s proceedings, the March happenings will almost certainly be held virtually.

The General Assembly will finalize a spending plan in May and June. Legislators have until the beginning of July to approve a budget plan.

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