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.
Rating: (-2)
Bill Description: Senate Bill 1196 is an enhancement of $1,273,400 and 0 new full-time positions for the Idaho Commission for Libraries fiscal year 2026. This legislation appropriates a total of $8,204,000 and 35.50 full-time positions to the agency.
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.)?
Senate Bill 1196 includes an appropriation of $42,400 for broadband reimbursement beyond what is already continued in the maintenance budget and $1,231,000 for a Digital Access for All Idahoans Grant. It is not clear why this is the proper role of libraries. This is an 18.4% enhancement to the maintenance budget.
(-1)
Does this budget perpetuate or expand state dependence on federal dollars, thereby violating principles of federalism?
Senate Bill 1196 includes $1,231,000 for a Digital Access for All Idahoans Grant. This is new federal money. Separately there is $3.3 million carryover of federal funds for FY25 capital projects for library projects. Taken together these items perpetuates the dependence on federal funding and further violates the principles of federalism. Nearly 39% of the FY26 budget is federal funding.
(-1)
Is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending, if any, inappropriate for the changes in circumstances, scope of the agency, or current economic environment? Conversely, is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending appropriate given any change in circumstances or economic pressures?
This legislation funds the Idaho Commission for Libraries at over $6.9 million ongoing, growing from the 2023 base at roughly the rate of inflation in the last three years.
(0)
