Bill Caption

Relating to the establishment of a matching grant program for rural economic development.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB 1554, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($5,143,027) through the biennium ending August 31, 2015. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

Bill Analysis

Summary: SB 1554 would task the Department of Agriculture with establishing a new community development matching grant program. Counties and municipalities would be able to apply for matching grants to make improvements to their communities.

Analysis: This bill represents an unnecessary expansion of government and an unwise use of state funds. The money that the state will be spending on this large program – over $5,000,000 in the next two years alone – comes from taxpayers and is better spent by the taxpayers and private businesses, not the government.