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: -2

Bill Description: Senate Bill 1133 appropriates $19,833,600 and 15.00 full-time positions to the Office of Species Conservation for fiscal year 2024.

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 sets the maintenance budget for the Office of Species Conservation at $19,747,600, growing from the base by 31.2% in the last three years. This rate is more than double what would be prescribed by inflationary pressures and growth.

(-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 budget also includes the use of $18,088,000 in federal grants. These funds constitute 91% of the agency’s total budget with 47% of staff supported by these funds. The mission for the Office of Species Conservation outlines that their purpose is to manage wildlife subject to the Federal Endangered Species Act. This agency is heavily dependent on federal control and regulation through funding and their primary operations.

(-1)