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: 0

Bill Description: Senate Bill 1414 appropriates $101,995,300 and 659.58 full-time positions to the Department of Labor for fiscal year 2025.

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 program maintenance budget for the Department of Labor of $97,685,700, growing it from the base by 1.9% over the last three years. This rate is slower than the rate of inflation over the same period, demonstrating modest growth in the cost to maintain the agency.

(+1)

Does this budget perpetuate or expand state dependence on federal dollars, thereby violating principles of federalism? Conversely, does this budget actively reduce the amount of federal dollars used to balance this budget?

This legislation appropriates $83,426,100 in federal funding to support the agency’s $101,995,300 budget — 82% of total appropriations to the agency. These funds are largely composed of miscellaneous, ongoing federal grants.

Additionally, this agency relies on federal funds to support 94% of its 659.58 full-time equivalent positions. These observations illustrate how the agency depends substantially on federal funding to sustain its programs and operations.

(-1)

Does the budget grow government through the addition of new permanent FTPs or through funding unlegislated efforts to create new or expanded entitlement programs? Conversely, does this budget reduce the size of government staff and programs except where compelled by new legislation?

This legislation requires a reduction of 17 FTPs to the Department of Labor for IT consolidation. There is a commensurate increase in the Office of Information Technology Services. This is not a true reduction in the size of government, but merely a rearrangement of ongoing spending across state agencies.

(0)