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: -3

Bill Description: House Bill 726 appropriates $2,352,100 and 8.00 full-time positions to the Department of Administration for fiscal year 2025.

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 appropriates $1,054,200 to the Department of Administration to pay for a new mail sorting machine. All of these funds are federally sourced, and will come from the American Rescue Plan Act grants.

Not only does this expense represent a sizable portion of the agency’s budget, but these ARPA funds are being used outside their intended purpose. ARPA funds were given to states to help them address the hardship imposed by pandemic policies. When the Legislature voted to accept these funds, it was acknowledged in the intent language that these funds were borrowed from our grandchildren. Projects and spending should be allocated with them in mind. The addition of a new mail sorter is far from the intent to manage the pandemic and or benefit our grandchildren. This is a wasteful expense.

(-1)

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 Department of Administration at $29,139,100, growing it from the base by 21.0% in the last three years. This rate is faster than what would be prescribed by inflationary pressures and growth.

(-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?

House Bill 726 would appropriate $689,800 in funds to support eight new full-time equivalent positions. These new positions would include two new benefits management positions, three new project management positions, and three new purchasing officers. Funding for benefits managers was requested in light of school employees being added to the state benefits plan. The new projects managers were requested to mitigate additional projects in the Permanent Building Fund. Finally, the new purchasing officers would support their procurement process.

These positions add to the overall size and ongoing expense of the government.

(-1)