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.
Rating: (-2)
Bill Description: House Bill 374 is an enhancement of $250,100 and 0.43 new full-time positions for the State Board of Education, Agricultural Research and Extension Services for fiscal year 2026. This legislation appropriates a total of $39,955,500 and 341.76 full-time positions to the agency.
Is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending, if any, inappropriate for the changes in circumstances, scope of the agency, or current economic environment? Conversely, is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending appropriate given any change in circumstances or economic pressures?
This legislation funds ongoing spending for the State Board of Education, Agricultural Research and Extension Services at $39,955,500, growing from the base by 20.8% in the last three years. This rate is 6.6 points faster than what would be prescribed by inflationary pressures and growth.
Because of the accelerated growth in this budget the last three years, a truly fiscally responsible enhancement budget for FY2026 would reverse the growth with a reduction to the base budget, or negative appropriation.
(-1)
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?
This legislation adds 0.43 FTPs and $19,300 is for salaries and benefits for building maintenance staff for the agency’s Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment. This position is part of a larger request of $250,100 for building maintenance and repair.
(-1)
