The Idaho Spending Index examines appropriation bills on several fronts to add some important context to lawmakers’ discussions as the spending bills are considered on the House and Senate floors. As we look at the budget, we consider the following issues:

Does the agency requesting these funds serve a proper role of government? Has wasteful or duplicative spending been identified within the agency, and if so, has that spending been eliminated or corrected? Have budget-writers reviewed existing outlays to look for opportunities to contain spending, e.g., through a base reduction? If there is a maintenance budget, is that maintenance budget appropriate? Are the line items appropriate in type and size, and are they absolutely necessary for serving the public? Does the budget contemplate adding new employees or programs? Does the appropriation increase dependency on the federal government?

Our analysis is intended to provide lawmakers and their constituents with a frame of reference for conservative budgeting, by summarizing whether appropriation measures contain items that are truly  objectionable or legitimate and worthy of support.

Bill Description: Health Education Programs, FY22 appropriation

Rating: -1

In FY21. the legislature approved a line item that added 25 new medical residency positions across the state with a cost of $1.25 million. This budget seeks to add 2 FTP’s and 15 new medical resident positions. It is not clear why taxpayers should pay for people’s medical training. According to the data provided in the legislative budget book, only 55% of the Boise Internal Medicine graduates remain to practice in Idaho. The retention rate for Boise Psychiatry Education residencies is 62.5%.