Note: This year IFF rated maintenance bills according to a more refined system. This is an enhancement bill, and will be rated as a standalone bill. IFF will only consider enhancement line items in these ratings. This means that FTP reductions passed in maintenance legislation will not be evaluated here, among other things.
Bill Description: Senate Bill 1401 is an enhancement of $35,645,400 and a transfer of 3.00 full-time positions for the Division of Public Health Services at DHW for fiscal year 2027. This legislation appropriates a total of $141,295,800 and 211.22 full-time positions to the agency.
Rating: -3
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 authorizes an ongoing spending enhancement for the Division of Public Health Services of $194,000, an increase from last year’s (FY26) reduction of $8,905,000. FY26’s ongoing spending is wrapped into FY27’s base increase, making ongoing spending especially important to scrutinize. Volatility in these increases (or decreases) is to be expected, and makes discernment on the propriety of new spending imperative.
This ongoing expenditure consists of the Idaho Home Visiting Program ($4,237,200 FF) and the Fee for Service Lab Testing ($278,400 DF) offset by a reduction in Federal Funds to Lab Testing of $78,400, for a net increase of $200,000. Another offset is a transfer of the IHVP program ($4,242,800) to Early Learning and Development, a net zero transfer, not a true reduction.
The large reduction in the previous year has to do with the scaling down of the Immunization Assessments Fund.
(0)
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 authorizes onetime spending for the Division of Public Health Services of $35,451,000, adding additional expenditures after last year’s (FY26) onetime spending of $34,613,000. Onetime spending is often even more volatile than ongoing spending, which is to be expected due to the onetime expenses generally being utilized for projects or capital outlay. This also calls for special scrutiny and discernment.
There are numerous onetime expenditure enhancements. The first of which is the Restoration of the Immune Assessment Fund ($28,020,000 DF). The Governor recommended the continuation of the Fund at $2,500,000, set by the legislature last year. This represents not only egregious spending authority (raised via fees on insurance companies), it is an overstep by the agency to ask for such funds.
(-1)
Other onetime expenditures include HIV Surveillance ($478,700 FF), ARPA Multiyear grants ($6,633,700 FF), Hepatitis Surveillance ($299,600 FF), and a restoration of SPA funding ($19,000 GF). These are unwarranted expenditures, especially so in a deficit year.
(-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?
This legislation appropriates $7,328,000 in federal enhancements to the agency for numerous health monitoring and ARPA (COVID) funds. This represents a commitment to continued reliance on borrowed federal dollars, deepening the dependence on the federal government and violating the principles of federalism.
(-1)
Does the budget grow government through the addition of new, objectionable, permanent FTPs or through funding unlegislated efforts to create new or expanded existing programs? Conversely, does this budget reduce the size of government staff and programs except where compelled by new legislation?
The reduction of 3.00 FTP from IHVP represents a net zero transfer of employees to Early Learning and Development, see above.
(0)
