Week five at the legislature was every bit as busy as the previous, with a bit of urgency thrown in.
We have one more week of committee work, but the bills that are being numbered is really slowing down. In January we voted as a majority caucus to add more money into the Rainy-Day Fund.
The Governor allocated $5 million, but those of us that were around during the Great Recession know that the Rainy-Day Funds saved our state and allowed us to recover more quickly. This year we paid 85 million into that fund, we also paid 67 million into ongoing Phase-funded Buildings and corrected an error in the Firefighter Retirement in the amount of $18 million.
We also paid an additional $6 million in Tourism Marketing, Juror, Witness and Interpreter Deficits and other Miscellaneous changes.
We received our 2018 Revenue in February and the total funds available, and after Base Changes (referenced above) the General Fund has a one-time surplus of $27 million and a one-time $102 million in the Education Fund.
There is also $173 million ongoing in the General Fund and $280 million ongoing in the Education Fund. Committees have already put in their budget requests and priorities.
The last week legislators will be able to prioritize a few last requests. My request is for $50,000 additional ongoing money for our Prehistoric Museum.
I am going to try to get funding for the County Drug Prevention Coalitions. They were dropped off the Governor’s Budget and I will go to bat for them to see if we can get some funding since there is extra money available.
Education should see a great boost to the WPU, the numbers aren’t finalized yet, but I will let you know as soon as they
Friday, I presented to the Transportation Committee a bill that would change the Mike Dmitrich Highway Designation on Highway 6 to a Mike Dmitrich Byway. This bill would allow the reinstatement of the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Highway, which is the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
The original designation was made in 1949 and it belongs to a nationwide designation starting in the state of Massachusetts and ending in Long Beach, California.
When this part was dropped it broke the continuous road designation honoring these veterans.
By designating the Mike Dmitrich Byway, it allows us to continue to honor our beloved senator, Mike Dmitrich, and honor the veterans of the Civil War. The bill passed in committee unanimously.
I sponsored a Dental Hygienist bill that will be heard in committee this week, two bills that will be heard on the House Floor possibly on Monday, and two bills that are on the 3rd reading board in the Senate.
I really enjoyed the two school visits on a very snowy Friday. Castle Dale Elementary and Creekview Elementary both braved the storm and did a great job presenting their displays.
It is especially fun for me when the teachers are former students of mine.
I am running for reelection as Representative of HD69 again and if you live in district 69 I would really appreciate your signature on one of my petitions.
As usual, please stay in touch.
Cell: 435-650-1969, email: christinewatkins@le.utah.gov, Facebook: Representative Christine Watkins District 69.
Local legislator seeks $50,000 in additional museum funds
Utah State Rep. Christine Watkins