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: (-4)

Bill Description: House Bill 419 is an enhancement of $8,135,700 and 5.00 new full-time positions for the Department of Parks and Recreation for fiscal year 2026. This legislation appropriates a total of $57,263,500 and 195.80 full-time positions to the agency.

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 provides an additional $309,100 for a targeted pay increase for state park rangers. According to the Legislative Budget Book, this increase would be used to address the problem of salary compression and to  develop a “tiered ranger program” for the rangers’ compensation schedule. But this increase ignores the generous statewide change in employee compensation (CEC) already allocated to this agency of $250,195. This additional increase is 124% of the dollar amount they already get from the CEC.

(-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 funds ongoing spending for the Department of Parks and Recreation at $50,163,000, growing from the base by 30.8% in the last three years. This rate is more than 16 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 negative appropriation — a reduction to the base budget.

(-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?

House Bill 419 appropriates another $2,725,000 in new federal funding to support the department. Among the items requested, the department seeks a $2 million federal grant to improve a day use facility at Bear Lake State Park. These improvements were inspired by the recent purchase of another 28 acres to expand the park. This grant features a 1:1 federal match, meaning the total request when combining state and federal funds is actually $4 million. There is also an appropriation of $400,000 for general improvements at Lake Cascade State Park. 

What is concerning about these requests in the department is still spending down a very large appropriation, given two years ago, to address deferred maintenance and park improvement projects. These funds would be in addition to that appropriation.

If legislators approve this request, the Department of Parks and Recreation would have $8.9 million of federal funds in its budget — constituting 15.5% of its total appropriation. This legislation expands the department’s dependency on federal funding to support Idaho’s state parks.

(-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 appropriates 5.00 new FTPs and $321,000 for additional park personnel. The department saw substantial growth in this vein, appropriating more personnel —  and more park personnel, in particular — in each of the last three fiscal years. Since the 2023 fiscal year, the Department of Parks and Recreation has already received an additional 33.08 FTPs at a total cost of $2,367,000. It is unclear when the agency will reach its staffing goals, but the ongoing growth in the agency has been substantial.

(-1)