The Idaho state budget is out of control, and it is the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s duty to the citizens of this state to fight big government spending wherever and whenever possible. Even after accounting for the governor’s three percent holdback, agencies have still requested $14.5 billion for government operations in fiscal year 2027. This is wholly unacceptable, considering that spending should only be around $12.7 billion, adjusted for inflation and population growth since 2019, before the COVID-19-related spending surge.

A commensurate decrease in the tax burden for Idaho citizens should accompany a reduction in spending. It is our goal to bring relief to Idaho families and taxpayers by reducing taxes, which can only be achieved through a serious plan to reduce spending.

The Idaho Freedom Foundation’s plan to reduce spending is multifaceted, and this series will outline the major pillars of our plan. The IFF plans to reduce government spending by eliminating wasteful and unconstitutional spending, repealing Medicaid expansion, and preparing a budget that returns the state to pre-COVID spending adjusted for inflation and population growth:

1. Eliminating unconstitutional and wasteful programs. We have identified at least $380 million in savings for the state and, consequently, Idaho taxpayers.

2. Repeal Medicaid expansion. This program was supposed to cost the state of Idaho $400 million, but has since ballooned to more than $1.3 billion.

3. Return government expenditures to pre-COVID levels. Nearly $2 billion in cuts and savings have been identified and will be highlighted in a comprehensive budget release.

In short, the Idaho Freedom Foundation has a comprehensive plan to reduce government spending and, in conjunction with our tax reduction proposals, a path to reducing the tax burden on struggling families and taxpayers. With the state facing a fiscal deficit, the Idaho Legislature must not only take proposals to massively reduce government spending seriously, but also work to ensure safeguards are put in place so that such levels of reckless spending can never occur in Idaho again.