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 1197 is an enhancement of $8,259,700 and 7.33 new full-time positions for the Idaho Division of Idaho State Police and POST Academy for fiscal year 2026. This legislation appropriates a total of $112,693,800 and 606.67 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.)? 

The bill includes a 6% targeted pay increase for the commissioned officers and forensics personnel of the ISP. This was not requested by the Governor nor part of the CEC package which gave Troopers an increase of up to 8% to make their pay more competitive with surrounding states. It is not clear if this 6% targeted increase is on top of the base CEC, but in any case, it provides senior ISP employees with a much larger raise than other state employees in similar pay ranges. Among the 7.33 positions added is a Deputy Lab Manager. These are the types of additional positions that lead to administrative growth.

(-1)

Does this budget perpetuate or expand state dependence on federal dollars, thereby violating principles of federalism?

Senate Bill 1197 moves $659,700 of federal funding to dedicated funding, but it’s not clear whether the ongoing funding will be federally provided. In addition, includes $226,400 in additional federal funding for grants, targeted pay increases, and replacement items. These categories perpetuate the dependence on federal funding and threaten Idaho’s autonomy. Based on the reduction in one category and increase in others, with a net reduction in federal funding, this appears to be neutral at this time.

(0)

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 State Police growing from the 2023 base by over 34% in the last three years. This rate is faster than what would be prescribed by inflationary pressures and growth.

Because of the accelerated growth in this budget the last three years, a truly fiscally responsible enhancement budget for FY2026 would reverse the growth with a negative appropriation — a reduction to the base budget.

(-1)