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: -2
Bill Description: House Bill 722 appropriates $84,557,700 and 20.00 full-time positions to the Workforce Development Council for fiscal year 2025.
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 confirms the program maintenance budget for the Workforce Development Council of $14,358,100. This growth from the FY 2022 base is more than three and a half times what would be prescribed by inflationary pressures and growth. This is largely due to the addition of funds from programs like Idaho Launch.
(-1)
Does this budget perpetuate or expand state dependence on federal dollars, thereby violating principles of federalism? Conversely, does this budget actively reduce the amount of federal dollars used to balance this budget?
ANALYST NOTE: This legislation provides for $190,000 to support personnel who manage funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. These grant manager positions were funded on a one-time basis in the 2024 fiscal year. However, ARPA funds will continue to require management until 2026. It is appropriate for the state to be using ARPA money to manage the programs these funds support.
The Workforce Development Council received a substantial amount of federal grants and ARPA funds to manage during the 2024 fiscal year. One example is the agency received authority to manage the embattled Childcare Stabilization Block Grants program. This funding was initially appropriated to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, but a recent audit found criminal malfeasance in the management of these funds. In response, the Legislature opted to have the Workforce Development Council manage the remaining distribution of these funds.
(0)
Does the budget grow government through the addition of new permanent FTPs or through funding unlegislated efforts to create new or expanded entitlement programs? Conversely, does this budget reduce the size of government staff and programs except where compelled by new legislation?
House Bill 722 requests an additional three full-time equivalent positions and $219,400 from the In-Demand Careers fund to support the Idaho Launch program. This is an expansion of government through the addition of new, permanent full-time positions within the agency.
(-1)
