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: (0)
Bill Description: Senate Bill 1209 is an enhancement of $3,172,700 and 0.00 new full-time positions for Idaho Colleges and Universities for fiscal year 2026. This legislation appropriates a total of $739,432,800 and 4,921.68 full-time positions.
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 1209 removes $4,000,000 in wasteful spending tied to the reduction of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) departments and budgets by Boise State University and the University of Idaho. The elimination of this waste though is categorized as one-time? If the elimination of these departments and expenses are permanent, then shouldn’t the removal of the expense be permanent as well?
(+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 ongoing spending for Idaho colleges and universities at $736 million, growing from the base by over 21% 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)
