In December, Legislative economists provided updated revenue estimates to the Executive Appropriations Committee, along with a summary of how current spending and statutorily required and recommended revenue set asides paints a narrow margin for new spending during the General Session. As discussed last week, recent trends in collections are likely attributable to timing, and February’s report (when economists again update revenue estimates before the end of session) should provide a clearer picture of the revenue seesaw.
Perched on the other end of this budgeting teeter-totter are Requests for Appropriations (RFA), the method for legislators to secure additional funding for programs not associated with proposed legislation. RFAs were introduced to limit the drafting, presenting, and voting on bills which only included appropriations and did not amend policy. This dual path was designed to allow legislators and staff to streamline budget and policy objectives in the short, six week annual legislative session. Under Joint Rule 3-2-701, RFAs are due on the 11th day of the General Session at 12pm (this year, that’s Friday, January 31st, 2025).
To assist policymakers in walking this fiscal tight rope, the Legislative staff annually make recommendations to each appropriations subcommittee on potential actions that could be taken to reallocate existing budgets for new purposes. During the fourth week of the session, RFAs, (along with all budget requests) will be prioritized by each subcommittee and then presented the following week to the Executive Appropriations Committee. EAC’s work during the following two and a half weeks will determine which items are including in the final act.
As of publication, 100 Requests for Appropriation have been submitted, for a total ask of $334.4 million one-time and $70.1 million ongoing.