New EPA Finance Plan Prompts Fear Of SRF Cuts In Agency's FY16 Budget

摘要

EPA's creation of a new Water Finance Center to promote public-private water infrastructure projects is prompting concern from some stakeholders that either President Obama's fiscal year 2016 budget proposal or GOP spending bills might float major cuts to EPA's water state revolving funds (SRFs) by citing the new financing push at the agency. Sources generally agree that the president's overall FY16 budget proposal, which is expected to be unveiled Feb. 2, will include a roughly 7 percent increase for federal funding over existing levels. But they do not expect EPA's FY16 budget to receive either a major boost or reduction from its current $8.14 billion funding level. However, the president has targeted the SRFs for large cuts in the past and observers expect a similar push next month.