Cave Management: Linking Land Use Planning to Budgeting $$$$$$$$$$

What Does the BLM Budget Look Like? Context of the Federal Budget 2013: Previous Year 2014: Current Year 2015: Budget Year 2016: Program Year 2017: Out Years Why important: Administration Proposes, and Congress Disposes.

Budget is Complex?!! Source: BLM (WO 800) FY 2013 Previous Year FY 2014 Current Year FY 2015 Budget Year FY 2016 Program Year FY 2017 Out Years Dream Time

What the Budget Look Like to the Field? Context of the Federal Budget 2014: Current Year AWP, Congress has spoken. No big increases. BPS Projects for Next Year This will go away !! 2015: Budget Year Budget Justifications Budget has been decided by administration, but congress hasn’t approved. Add ons, Line items, and Anti-deficiency problems. 2016: Program Year The budget is being put together. Opportunities for initiatives and increases. Has to be in big chunks ($500,000) Look into the future, line up external support. Hope 2017: Out Years: Opportunities to line up external support.

Tie Funding Proposals to Current Budget Initiatives: $ Opportunity $ Source: Internet, 6/1/2007 Current Budget Initiatives (FY 2014) High  Visitor Safety/Services  Travel & Transportation Mgmt.  Recreation Permit & Fee Program  Applied Science Medium  Youth  Wild & Scenic River Management  National Scenic & Historic Trails Low = Forget it

What’s in the 2014 BLM Budget: 536 pages. Total BLM Budget: $1,105,000,000 (That’s billion) Operating Accounts: Recreation Program ($51,819,000) Increase of $2,745,000 from FY2012 Problems: Fixed Costs, Pay raises, Personnel reductions, Admin. initiatives How much for caves? Recreation, Cultural, Wildlife, Oil & Gas

What’s in the 2015 BLM Budget: Budget Request 1.1Billion Decrease of $5.6 Million Personnel Reduction 144 FTE Recreation? +1,325 Million Priority Initiatives: America’s Great Outdoors and Youth Programs (Hire students to find caves) Look at other program initiatives that fit How much for caves? That’s up to you

Program Year (FY16) Budget Process Concept of Implementation Plans Take the land use plan decisions and integrate into program year processes. Highly Variable Program specific versus land use plan specific. (BLM funds programs, not plans) Highly dependent on Initiative and close coordination with Washington & State Office.

Program Year Budget: the Field Context Problems/issues that require budget resources to resolve Link to administration initiatives: Look to opportunities In FY 2016, it may be AGO or Youth Initiatives: How can cave and karst resources relate to this? Cultural initiatives Recreation Initiatives Wildlife - T&E Initiatives, WNS Oil and Gas BMPs, conflict resolution process GET SUPPORT OF PARTNERS NSS, NLCS, Wildlife partners, others

$ How to Get Budget Resources $ Be observant of opportunities to link to initiatives. Work with your Program Leads (No Matter What Program: Wildlife, Cultural, Recreation, NLCS, Oil and Gas, etc.) Have your needs pre-packaged, & ready to go. Make sure it fits one or two pages, with pictures. Generate external support. (Not budget busting, but awareness.)

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