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: House Bill 973 is a supplemental of $6,500,000 and 0.00 new full-time positions for the Military Division for fiscal year 2026.
Rating: 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 Military Division of $6,500,000. Onetime spending is often even more volatile than ongoing spending, which is to be expected due to these onetime expenses generally being utilized for projects or capital outlay. This also calls for special scrutiny and discernment.
The onetime expenditure solely consists of a grant to replace climate control systems in buildings occupied by the AIr National Guard at Gowen Field ($6,500,000 FF).
(0)
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 budget appropriates $6,500,000 of federal grant dollars in FY26 to the Military Division. This is federal money that is being spent on federal facilities. The legislature is required to appropriate this money in the budget process if it is to be spent due to the fact the Idaho Air National Guard is stationed there, but this is essentially a pass through step for federal dollars. Although, to be clear, the legislature could still reject the appropriation.
(0)
