Environment, Energy and Agriculture

In SFY 2022-23, DEC All Funds spending totaled $1.5 billion, an increase of $135.3 million (10.1 percent) from SFY 2021-22, with local assistance spending growing 33 percent year-over-year. This increase is accounted for by additional spending from federal clean water funding provided by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
As of March 31, 2023, employment at DEC was 2,885 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions, an increase of 70 FTEs above levels as of March 31 in the previous year and 16 FTE positions below levels from March 31, 2012.

Created in 1993, the EPF:

Provides an ongoing source of primarily pay-as-you-go funding to address the State’s environmental needs. Appropriations to the EPF have fluctuated over time and reached a high of $400 million in the Enacted Budget for SFY 2022-23.
Supports an array of environmental programs, such as State and municipal open space conservation; municipal and agricultural nonpoint source water pollution control; State and local parks projects; municipal water pollution control and aquatic habitat conservation; support for the State’s zoos, botanical gardens and aquaria; waterfront revitalization; farmland conservation; and municipal climate change mitigation and resilience programs.
Has been primarily funded with a portion of the State’s real estate transfer tax. However, from SFY 2014-15 through SFY 2022-23, General Fund Transfers were also a recurring funding source and accounted for 20 percent of all EPF revenues over this period.

In November 2022, New York State voters approved the $4.2 billion “Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022.” With nearly 68 percent of voters who voted on the ballot question supporting it, the Bond Act became the largest bond act in State history that received voter approval. The Enacted Budget for SFY 2022-23 appropriated the full $4.2 billion in the DEC Capital Projects Budget. The Bond Act is authorized to fund climate change resiliency and mitigation, flood risk reduction, water quality improvement and infrastructure, as well as open space conservation and recreation.

Since SFY 2015-16, Enacted Budgets have included a total of $5.4 billion for clean water infrastructure projects, including those projects authorized by the New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement and Clean Water Infrastructure Improvement Acts. Eligible projects include nonagricultural nonpoint source control; municipal wastewater treatment; remediation of contaminated sites that contribute to water contamination; source water protection; and upgrades to septic systems and cesspools. As of March 31, 2023, $1.2 billion (22 percent) had been spent from these appropriations.

The Enacted Budget for SFY 2023-24 created a Climate Action Fund to receive revenues from a regulatory program to establish an economy-wide cap on greenhouse gas emissions. Under statute, 33 percent of revenues in the Fund would serve as a source of rebates and other programs to offset the costs of the program to consumers and small businesses. Remaining revenues would support State efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Revenues for the Fund are intended to come from an annual auction of allowances to emit greenhouse gases. Regulations which will specify sources of emissions that must purchase allowances and other terms of the auctions are under development by DEC.

In SFY 2022-23, State Parks spending was $430.2 million, an increase of 11.3 percent over SFY 2021-22 spending. The largest areas of increased spending were in capital projects with a 13.9 percent year-over-year increase and State operations with a 9 percent year-over-year increase.
As of March 31, 2023, employment at State Parks was 2,099 FTE positions, an increase of 4 positions over SFY 2021-22 employment and an increase of 21.3 percent over SFY 2012-13 levels.
Appropriations of $303.9 million for various maintenance and recreation projects were included in the State Parks Capital Projects Budget for SFY 2023-24.

In SFY 2022-23, Department of Agriculture and Markets spending was $99.9 million, an increase of 3.5 percent over SFY 2021-22 spending. Increased spending was supported by a 31.8 percent increase in Capital Project spending.
The Enacted Budget for SFY 2023-24 contained provisions allowing local governments and school districts to purchase up to $150,000 of locally grown foods.

In SFY 2022-23 New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) spending was $1.4 billion, an increase of $21.4 million, or 1.5 percent, over SFY 2021-22 spending.
Revenues collected by NYSERDA in SFY 2022-23 totaled $1.6 billion. Of these revenues $1.4 billion, or 87.5 percent, were derived from assessments on electric and gas utilities, or from the proceeds of auctions conducted under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

2023 Financial Condition Report
For Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2023