Note: This year IFF rated maintenance bills according to a more refined system. This is an enhancement bill, and will be rated as a standalone bill. IFF will only consider enhancement line items in these ratings. This means that FTP reductions passed in maintenance legislation will not be evaluated here, among other things.

Bill Description: Senate Bill 1388 is an enhancement of $32,823,700 and 0.00 new full-time positions for the Department of Corrections for fiscal year 2027. This legislation appropriates a total of $428,814,700 and 2,254.35 full-time positions to the agency.

Rating: -2 

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 authorizes an ongoing spending enhancement for the Department of Corrections of $29,261,100, adding onto last year’s (FY26) increase in ongoing spending of $14,375,800. FY26’s ongoing spending is wrapped into FY27’s base increase, making ongoing spending especially important to scrutinize. Volatility in these increases (or decreases) is to be expected, and makes discernment on the propriety of new spending imperative.

The entirety of the ongoing enhancement is in relation to population increases at IDOC facilities. The state’s core constitutional role requires it to maintain the public order. As Idaho’s population grows and the number of inmates rises, so does the expected cost.

However, part of these new ongoing enhancements include additional expenditures on medical costs ($6,367,900 GF). Last year’s FY26 budget saw an additional ongoing increase of $2,727,900 to the General Fund. The significant increases in the cost of medical care inside IDOC facilities is a serious issue that has continued to be left unaddressed.

(-1)

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.)?

This legislation authorizes onetime spending for the Department of Corrections of $3,562,600, adding additional expenditures after last year’s (FY26) onetime spending of $9,387,700. Onetime spending is often even more volatile than ongoing spending, which is to be expected due to the onetime expenses generally being utilized for projects or capital outlay. This also calls for special scrutiny and discernment.

These consist of replacement items and OITS Hardware and are De Minimis to an agency of this size. 

(0)

This legislation also includes onetime supplementals for FY26. While some of these may be required, such as inmate housing, spending authority for Hepatitis-C monitoring ($424,300 DF) is not, especially in a deficit year when the agency has already asked for major enhancements.

(-1)