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Western States Water Council Executive Committee Minutes Washington, D.C. March 26, 2006 . Under this scenario, the budget reserves actually go upby about two-thirds and the reserves begin to increase. Jack asked members to consider which scenario to approve, particularly given the current status of the member states' budgets at this time. At this point in time, the states across the West, are in better financial condition than they have been in a long time. It may be appropriate to establish a little higher revenues so that there is more flexibility in the future. The Management Subcommittee recommends a 20% increase, but are open to considering other options. A discussion ensued. Various options for dues increases were suggested, as well as noting that a 50% budget reserve is a somewhat arbitrary figure. Some expressed the notion that an incremental increase over a multi-year span would be preferable in their states to a large increase in a single year. Phil Ward moved approval for a 10% dues increase in FY08. The motion was unanimously approved. WESTERN GOVERNORS' ASSOCIATION WORK PLAN ITEMS A. Direction from WGA toWSWC to Prepare Recommendations and Policy Options for the Sustainable Development and Use of Water - Draft Report Craig Bell set forth a schedule for completing the report to the governors. Craig noted that the public comment period is due to end on March 30. Under the supervision of the Executive Committee, the staff will rewrite and finalize the report pursuant to the comments received and the results from the . March 27 workshop. There will only be about six weeks to finalize the report. The Western Governors' Association would like to see the report about 30 days in advance of the Annual Meeting. Thus, the deadline would be May 10. Conference calls will be scheduled as necessary for the Executive Committee and others involved to review the report in order to meet this time frame. The report will then go to the WGA Staff Council and undergo their process. Changes could be made at this point before the governors take it up at their meeting in June. Craig will be attending the WGA Staff Council meeting in Napa, California on April 7. The first draft of the report will be presented at that meeting, along with a discussion of the process that has taken place to that point. A plenary session on growth is scheduled at the Annual Meeting. Water will be a piece of that plenary. The governors will take up the report at the end of that plenary session and adopt the report. The governors want to be able to take action and show that they are actually doing something about the issue, so the report would be adopted just following the session. Implementation then follows. B. Other Matters Shaun McGrath stated that the WGA Annual Meeting will be held in Sedona, Arizona on June 10-13. As mentioned, one plenary will be on growth, the other two plenaries are on the avian bird flu and clean and diversified energy initiative. He also reported that Idaho Governor Kempthorne will potentially be leaving to become the new Secretary of the Department oflnterior. In Idaho, the Lieutenant Governor steps in to fill the vacancy. Governor Sebelius from Kansas and Governor Henry from Oklahoma have agreed to join WGA. That is positive news. . 4