The Idaho Spending Index serves to provide a fiscally conservative perspective on state budgeting while providing an unbiased measurement of how Idaho lawmakers apply these values to their voting behavior on appropriations bills. Each bill is analyzed within the context of the metrics below. They receive one (+1) point for each metric that is satisfied by freedom-focused policymaking and lose one (-1) point for each instance in which the inverse is true. The sum of these points composes the score for the bill.

Analyst: Niklas Kleinworth

Rating: -1

Bill Description: Senate Bill 1209 appropriates $14,237,600 to the Public School Central Services Division for fiscal year 2024.

Does this budget incur any wasteful spending among discretionary funds, including new line items? Conversely, does this budget contain any provisions that serve to reduce spending where possible (i.e. base reductions, debt reconciliation, etc.)? 

This legislation appropriates $2 million to increase spending for professional development support by 66%. These funds are to increase the number of contracted content specialists to conduct training throughout the state that addresses changes in content standards. However, content standards change regularly. The department did not note how these changes result in an increased workload compared to normal. Such a large increase does not seem reasonable, given the circumstances behind the request.

(-1)

Is the maintenance budget inappropriate for the needs of the state, the size of the agency, or the inflationary environment of the economy? Conversely, is the maintenance budget appropriate given the needs of the state and economic pressures?

This legislation sets the maintenance budget for the Central Services Division at $14,237,600, demonstrating approximately zero growth from the base over the last three years.

(0)