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 1438 is a negative enhancement (a reduction) of $13,500,000 and 0.00 full-time positions for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) for fiscal year 2027. This legislation appropriates a total of $12,310,000 and 0.00 full-time positions to the agency.

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 legislation authorizes an ongoing negative enhancement (reduction in spending) for the IDLA of $13,500,000, a reduction from last year’s increase in ongoing spending of $3,577,600. 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 legislation includes one ongoing negative enhancement. This is a reduction in IDLA funding (13,500,000 GF). Reductions in spending are necessary to many government programs, especially so in a deficit year.

(+1)