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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Taylor

DATE TYPED 3/3/05

HB

SHORT TITLE Middle Rio Grande Bosque Coordinating Council

SB 881

ANALYST Hadwiger

APPROPRIATION

(in $000s)

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$75.0

Non-Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

Department of Transportation (DOT)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 881 appropriates $75,000 from the general fund to the Department of Finance and

Administration (DFA) to provide a grant-in-aid to the Mid-Region Council of Governments to

convene a task force to develop a mechanism for creating a Middle Rio Grande Bosque Coordi-

nating Council.

Significant Issues

According to DFA, in 1993 Senator Pete Domenici appointed a nine member Rio Grande

Bosque Conservation Committee to plan the preservation and restoration of the Middle Rio

Grande Bosque. After two years, the Committee produced a Management Plan with 21 specific

recommendations. To date the committee still holds an annual meeting. One of the recommen-

dations was to form a coordinating council. The initial plan was the basis for subsequent work

on the 21 specific recommendations and is being updated for future reference. Currently there

are numerous initiatives in process in the Bosque; each does not know what the other is doing.

There is a need for collaboration of members and agencies. The coordinating council will serve

as a clearinghouse for research and disseminate information to all partners.

Senate Bill 881 -- Page 2

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $75,000 contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 would revert to

the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

DFA’s Local Government Division will administer the funds through the Mid-Region COG for

expenditure in fiscal year 2006 to develop a Rio Grande Bosque Coordinating Council. The di-

vision will enter into a joint powers agreement with the Mid-Region COG who in turn will seek

bids through a request for proposal process to contract services.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

According to DFA, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) wants it clear that

they are the owners of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque. They are proposing an amendment to the

original bill indicating ownership of the property belongs to the MRGCD.

DH/yr