State DEP budget decreases except for drilling inspectors

February 22, 2010

Filed in: Capitol

While the Department of Environmental Protection's allotment of state dollars will decrease for fiscal 2010-11, the hiring of gas and oil inspectors will increase thanks to sharply higher fees now being charged for permits to drill wells.

The DEP's general fund budget for the year that starts July 1 is $157 million, down $2 million from the current year and down sharply from $230 million a year ago, DEP Secretary John Hanger told House members today. But the department also gets federal and other funds, for total spending of $890 million in fascal 2010-11.