Bill Description: House Bill 847 appropriates the maintenance budget for the judicial branch.

Rating: +1 

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 bill would reduce the general funds base by $3,785,400, the dedicated base by $0, and the federal base by $0 for a total base reduction of $3,785,400. The total budget decreases from a FY26 original appropriation of $103,594,800 to a new FY27 maintenance appropriation of $100,502,600, a decrease of 7 FTP and $3,092,200, or 3.0%. Note that a few of the reductions have to do with the end of one time funding for projects as they are completed and do not include enhancements, which distorts the comparison. 

Most of these agencies did comply with the 5% cuts and reduced their base budgets to comply with fiscal limitations in a deficit year. Additionally, from FY20 to FY27 this group of agencies has not grown faster than inflation and population growth would prescribe. IFF analysis allows a baseline FY27 budget for the Judicial Branch of up to $106,906,711, this is $6,404,111 more than the current maintenance budget. Requested enhancements are not projected to significantly change this number. The relatively slow growth of this group of agencies as compared to others is notable.

Note: Agencies that are lean should be kept so. IFF’s numbers are presented to substantiate our claims and should not be construed into a claim that IFF believes agencies can or should spend up to this calculated limit.

(+1)