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.

Analyst: Niklas Kleinworth

Rating: 0

Bill Description: House Bill 699 appropriates $7,092,100 and 43.12 full-time positions to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired for fiscal year 2025.

Is the maintenance budget inappropriate for the needs of the state, the size of the agency, or the inflationary environment of the economy? Conversely, is the maintenance budget appropriate given the needs of the state and economic pressures?

This legislation confirms the maintenance budget for the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired  of $5,889,000, growing from the base by 14.8% over the last three years. This rate is lower than what would be prescribed by inflationary pressures over the same period.

(+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 $4,779,200 in federal funds to support the agency. Most of these funds go toward personnel costs, supporting approximately 74% of its staff — about 32 FTPs. This demonstrates that the commission is heavily dependent on federal funding.

(-1)