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.

Analyst: Niklas Kleinworth

Rating: -1

Bill Description: Senate Bill 1409 appropriates $13,909,100 and 81.00 full-time positions to PERSI for fiscal year 2025.

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.)? 

ANALYST NOTE: This legislation includes a $3 million request to support upgrades to the agency’s pension software. The request notes that $2,880,000 will be used for the software upgrade itself. The remaining funds will be used to hire temporary staff to assist with implementation. This is the third year of a four-year, $12 million project. The Legislature should be cautious of these temporary staffers becoming permanent employees once the project is finished.

Is the maintenance budget inappropriate for the needs of the state, the size of the agency, or the inflationary environment of the economy? Conversely, is the maintenance budget appropriate given the needs of the state and economic pressures?

This legislation confirms the maintenance budget for PERSI of $10,420,100, growing it from the base by 19.3% over the last three years. This rate is higher than what would be prescribed by inflationary pressures over the same period.

(-1)