DNRC quarterly fiscal report: ARPA carryforward, statutory authorities and SRF funding highlighted
March 18, 2026 | 2026 Legislature MT, Montana
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A DNRC briefing to the interim budget subcommittee summarized the department’s quarterly fiscal metrics, projects and program priorities.
Barb, the staff presenter, told the committee DNRC’s budget amendment authority is about $225,000,000 (34.6% of budget) with $30,000,000 expended in FY2026 to date. She noted statutory appropriations around $125,600,000 and an ARPA remaining authority of roughly $146,000,000 with 69% expended through February; much of that ARPA funding has been used for water and sewer infrastructure.
The presentation highlighted five active IT projects: two trust‑lands management system efforts (one customer‑portal piece budgeted at $2,000,000), the FSO Financial Management System (50% complete; $1,200,000 budget; $500,000 expended) and the Fire Financial Information System (60% complete; expected delivery in July).
Mark Bostrom (DNRC) and Lindsey Kravarichka (DEQ) briefed the committee on the drinking‑water and clean‑water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs. Bostrom said Montana has committed about $540,000,000 of $586,000,000 available on the drinking‑water side and that utilization and construction disbursement rates are in the 90th percentile nationally. DEQ’s Kravarichka noted the SRF typically loans about $37,000,000 annually and stressed that federal supplemental funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have been a recent driver of capacity; those sources are tapering and warrant attention.
Autumn Bahr (who said she also answers to Coleman) described the East Helena tour and explained how that community used a mix of ARPA grants, SRF loans and other state grants to complete concurrent drinking‑water and wastewater projects and avoid larger rate increases for customers.
DNRC staff said work on aligning Functional Classification to Reporting Level (FC→RL) is intended to improve budget transparency and that DNRC has done additional work to reclassify several divisions and program lines for the committee’s review.
Committee members asked follow‑up questions; DNRC offered to provide additional documentation on ARPA projects and SRF intended use plans.
Barb, the staff presenter, told the committee DNRC’s budget amendment authority is about $225,000,000 (34.6% of budget) with $30,000,000 expended in FY2026 to date. She noted statutory appropriations around $125,600,000 and an ARPA remaining authority of roughly $146,000,000 with 69% expended through February; much of that ARPA funding has been used for water and sewer infrastructure.
The presentation highlighted five active IT projects: two trust‑lands management system efforts (one customer‑portal piece budgeted at $2,000,000), the FSO Financial Management System (50% complete; $1,200,000 budget; $500,000 expended) and the Fire Financial Information System (60% complete; expected delivery in July).
Mark Bostrom (DNRC) and Lindsey Kravarichka (DEQ) briefed the committee on the drinking‑water and clean‑water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs. Bostrom said Montana has committed about $540,000,000 of $586,000,000 available on the drinking‑water side and that utilization and construction disbursement rates are in the 90th percentile nationally. DEQ’s Kravarichka noted the SRF typically loans about $37,000,000 annually and stressed that federal supplemental funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have been a recent driver of capacity; those sources are tapering and warrant attention.
Autumn Bahr (who said she also answers to Coleman) described the East Helena tour and explained how that community used a mix of ARPA grants, SRF loans and other state grants to complete concurrent drinking‑water and wastewater projects and avoid larger rate increases for customers.
DNRC staff said work on aligning Functional Classification to Reporting Level (FC→RL) is intended to improve budget transparency and that DNRC has done additional work to reclassify several divisions and program lines for the committee’s review.
Committee members asked follow‑up questions; DNRC offered to provide additional documentation on ARPA projects and SRF intended use plans.
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