The California Air Resources Board will take over many duties of the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) by the first of the year.
That's the word in Sacramento right now. I haven't been able to confirm the precise plan, but already people are starting to operate under the assumption that the Air Resources Board (ARB) will assume responsibility for the State Clearinghouse and planning unit for the California Environmental Quality Act. In addition, the air board apparently will take control of the strategic growth program, of which the Natural Resources Agency has been in charge with a great deal of assistance from OPR.
All of the shifting duties are the result of California's budget shortfall, now pegged at $26 billion.
In early June, Gov. Schwarzenegger called OPR a "total waste," and the Legislature's Conference Committee on the Budget voted to eliminate the office. What followed was a struggle between the ARB and the California Energy Commission over which agency would gain control of OPR's responsibilities. It appears the ARB has won. This is significant for planners – and for developers, when the economy starts to right itself – because the ARB is very focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, whereas OPR tried to view the big picture. Make of that what you will.
In addition, OPR's census activities will get moved to the Department of Finance's Demographic Unit. The work OPR has been doing on the pass-through of federal stimulus funds will move to finance and the governor's office itself.
One other move of note: the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank) is reportedly going to move from the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency to the Department of Housing and Community Development, as the agency's secretary position and administration is an apparent budget casualty.
Also about to be axed are the secretaries of the Natural Resources Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. Most offices, boards and departments housed within those agencies will apparently survive in some form, although the Bay Conservation and Development Commission appears to be on squishy ground.
– Paul Shigley
