A little more on the 2007 GIF Distribution

I've had a few questions about the funding of GIF projects contained in HB2501 and whether funding was definite for the projects. HB2501 appropriates more GIF money than is available.

Section 3(a) comes off the top, and it will be funded (beginning on p. 3, line 16). Section 3(b) is the legislative side of General Improvement, and it will be funded (beginning on p. 4, line 22). The governor's portion, however, will not be fully funded. He has about $200,000,000 for his side, and that section of this bill includes appropriations much higher than that. It is within his discretion how to prioritize those appropriations (see the language beginning on p. 19, line 33). There are also a couple of items that do not have to be included in HB2501 but that are still included in General Improvement. The most notable of these funds includes the transfer of $21,000,000 from the general revenue allotment reserve fund for the public school URT collection.

The Senate will vote on HB2501 on Monday's Senate Budget Calendar. Their identical version (SB833) has been passed and transmitted to the House, where it has been referred to the Joint Budget Committee. By passing the Senate version of the RSA on Friday, the GIF appropriation is the only large budget bill left undone.