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‘Both cannot pass:’ 12 JFAC members rebel against Idaho’s bare-bones maintenance budgets – Idaho Capital Sun

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‘Both cannot pass:’ 12 JFAC members rebel against Idaho’s bare-bones maintenance budgets – Idaho Capital Sun


Twelve of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee’s 20 members rebelled against the legislative committee’s co-chairs on Friday, going around committee leaders to pass new, standalone budgets that are in direct competition with the bare-bones maintenance budgets JFAC passed Jan. 16.

In the short term, Friday’s budget votes suggest a majority of JFAC members rejected the way JFAC’s co-chair broke the budgets into different pieces this year, separating maintenance of operations budgets from the new spending requests. 

Friday’s budget showdown also raises significant questions about the prospects for the fiscal year 2025 budget and the next moves for legislative leaders and JFAC members. 

For example, Friday’s action creates a situation where the full Idaho House of Representatives and Idaho Senate may soon have to make a choice between competing budgets for some of the same state agencies. 

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“Both cannot pass,” Rep. Britt Raybould, R-Rexburg, told the Idaho Capital Sun after Friday’s meeting. 

Idaho’s budget-setting process is undergoing multiple changes this year

Friday’s budget showdown is the latest development amid a string of significant changes to JFAC’s budget procedures

One of the changes calls for splitting the budgets up into new ways for the first time.

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On Jan. 16, JFAC passed 10 bare-bones budgets that included nearly all state agencies lumped together. JFAC’s co-chairs, Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, and Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, said those budgets are a version of last year’s budgets with the one-time money removed that are designed to simply keep the lights on for agencies. 

Grow and Horman said the plan was to consider the new funding requests and line items separately, which is what was supposed to happen Friday. 

But instead of taking on line items one by one to supplement the earlier bare-bones budgets, the 12 rank-and-file JFAC members crafted and then passed their own full budgets, which include the base budget, the maintenance budgets and any new line items all together in one budget – not two separate budgets.

Raybould told the Sun she really likes some of JFAC’s changes, including the chance to join smaller budget working groups, and moving the schedule up to begin budget setting earlier in the year.

But Raybould said she disagrees with separating the budgets out and voting on different elements of budgets at different times. Raybould also said she disagreed with labeling the bare-bones Jan. 16 budgets as maintenance of current operations budgets.

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Rep. Britt Raybould, R-Rexburg, speaks from the House floor at the State Capitol building on Jan. 23, 2024. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun)

“The budget that was outlined at the beginning of the year did not actually reflect all of the maintenance line items that are covered in the budget development manual that was developed between (the Legislative Services Office) and (the Division of Financial Management),” Raybould told the Sun. “In most instances it left out nondiscretionary, it left out replacement items and other what you think of as sort of regular and expected fund adjustments. Also because we had not made the (change in state employee compensation) decision at the time it did not include the CEC. So I would argue that the budgets that were passed at the beginning of January did not reflect a maintenance budget. The budgets that were passed today reflect a complete maintenance budget that included all of the items included in that maintenance definition.”

Eleven JFAC members, plus Mary Ruckh, the substitute serving for Rep. Brooke Green, D-Boise, worked together throughout Friday’s meeting to pass 14 new budgets for agencies ranging from the Idaho Department of Agriculture, the Commission for Libraries, the Idaho State Historical Society and the Idaho State Tax Commission. 

The group of 12 included Raybould, Ruckh and Reps. James Petzke, R-Meridian; Matthew Bundy, R-Mountain Home; Rod Furniss, R-Rigby; Clay Handy, R-Burley; and Sens. Kevin Cook, R-Idaho Falls; Dave Lent, R-Idaho Falls; Van Burtenshaw, R-Terreton; Julie VanOrden, R-Pingree; Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise; and Rick Just, D-Boise.

JFAC’s leaders joined Idaho Freedom Caucus to vote against every budget that passed Friday

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After Friday’s meeting, Grow confirmed to reporters that the new budgets JFAC passed Friday do not align with the Jan. 16 bare-bones budgets. 

“The ones that passed today were not in alignment with the maintenance budgets (from Jan. 16),” Grow said. “So if the (earlier) maintenance budgets were to pass, then we would have to come back and redo these bills (from today) to put them in conformity with the maintenance budgets.”

Friday’s budget showdown included an awkward dynamic where Grow and JFAC’s vice chairs, Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur d’Alene, and Rep. Steven Miller, R-Fairfield, joined with members of the Idaho Freedom Caucus and Sen. Ben Adams, R-Nampa, to vote against all 14 budgets that passed on Friday. 

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More often, JFAC co-chairs are usually advocating for the passage of budgets. 

Grow told reporters Friday he voted against the budgets Friday because of concerns with the process. 

“The reason I voted no on those today that were passed is because the original plan was to do maintenance budgets, and I’m still with the original plan,” Grow told reporters. “So to be consistent, I have to vote with what was already proposed and voted on by this group back on Jan. 16.”

“Here’s the issue, we hear that there are differences of opinion in the two (legislative) houses, differences of opinion of what you just heard today in JFAC,” Grow added. 

Grow told reporters he didn’t know a majority of JFAC members were bringing forward different budgets until shortly before Friday morning’s meeting started.

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“This morning at 7:30,” Grow said, when asked when he learned JFAC members would be bringing forward different budgets. 

Grow said that although every Republican on JFAC voted for the bare-bones Jan. 16 budgets, some appeared to have changed their minds as JFAC got bogged down in rules and voting debates. 

“Because of that, things have slowed down and that possibly has given people time to think about their earlier vote, and people are always free to change their vote,” Grow told reporters. 

Grow said the bare-bones maintenance budgets have already been sent to the floors of the Idaho House and Idaho Senate. These new budgets approved Friday will soon be sent to the floors as well, perhaps forcing legislators to make a choice. 

“Then it will be up to how they are handled on the floor by those who maintain the floor,” Grow said. “In terms of which budgets will go first, which ones will go later, I don’t know the answer to that question.”

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Meanwhile, Raybould told the Sun that some JFAC members have been having discussions for weeks about what constitutes a maintenance budget and the proper way to set budgets. 

“Conversations have been ongoing since the original budgets were passed back in January about what a true maintenance budget looked like and what options were available moving forward to address the concerns,” Raybould said. 

Horman did not attend Friday’s meeting; on Thursday Grow had announced Horman was not feeling well and was excused.

Most of the 14 budgets JFAC passed Friday appeared to adhere closely to Gov. Brad Little’s fiscal year 2025 budget recommendations. In an attempt to verify exact funding levels, the Idaho Capital Sun asked Legislative Service Office budget and policy division manager Keith Bybee for JFAC’s motion sheets and related budget documents two different times Friday. 

As of this article’s publication late Friday afternoon, Bybee had not provided the budget documents even though they were circulated to legislators during Friday’s public meeting and were directly used to craft the new budgets. 

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Grow and Horman have said publicly numerous times that increasing transparency around the state budget is one of their main priorities for the year.

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A stormy weather pattern sets in for Idaho

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A stormy weather pattern sets in for Idaho


A stormy weather pattern is expected to persist over the region, with multiple systems bringing precipitation and changing conditions. It all starts tonight with valley rain and snow above 4800 feet.

After a nice Monday afternoon, Another storm will move in for Tuesday. This will bring some more snow to the mountains.

The long-term forecast indicates a continued active weather pattern, with multiple systems bringing significant snow to the ski areas and mostly rain to the Treasure Valley. This is the longest Boise has gone before the first measurable snow since 1958. The latest first snow ever was 1/18/1918.

The weekend is expected to be wet and active, with multiple systems bringing more valley rain and mountains snow.

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Here’s a brief look at the forecast:

Tonight: Rain, with lows around 39°F and a 90% chance of precipitation.

Monday: Early morning rain showers give way to increasing sunshine and a very comfortable afternoon, with highs near 50°.

Tuesday: Rain likely, with highs near 51° and a 70% chance of precipitation.

Christmas Day: Mostly sunny, with highs near 42°.

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Wednesday Night: Snow, with lows around 33°. A dusting is possible on grassy surfaces. An 80% chance of precipitation.

Thursday: Any snow turns to rain in the valley, with highs near 43° and an 80% chance of precipitation.

Friday: Rain likely, with highs near 44° and a 60% chance of precipitation.

Saturday: Rain likely, with highs near 46° and a 70% chance of precipitation.

Sunday: Rain possible, with highs near 50°.

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'This is a game-changer.' New indoor soccer facility set to open in east Idaho – East Idaho News

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'This is a game-changer.' New indoor soccer facility set to open in east Idaho – East Idaho News


The following is a news release from Portneuf Valley Soccer Club.

POCATELLO — Portneuf Valley Soccer Club is proud to announce the finalization of a four-field indoor soccer facility in Pocatello.

At just over 120,000 square feet, this facility will be the largest of its kind in Idaho. Beyond housing four fields, the complex will serve as the new headquarters for PVSC, featuring administrative offices, a merchandise store, classrooms, and more.

“This facility is a game-changer for soccer in Eastern Idaho,” said Cristie Stone, President of PVSC. “It’s a testament to the vision and commitment of our club, our partners, and the community. We’re investing in our players and are determined to raise the bar of soccer in Idaho.”

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PVSC is making a significant investment to enhance the facility’s infrastructure which includes installation of high-quality turf on all four fields, procurement of equipment and technology, upgrades to restrooms, office spaces, and other amenities.

“This facility is phase 1 of a 3-phase strategic development program that will see PVSC become the Number 1 club in the state,” said Paul Baker, who led the development efforts. “We are focused on building a community where our athletes can thrive, families can connect, and the sport we love can continue to grow in eastern Idaho.”

PVSC’s growth ambitions don’t stop here. In addition to the facility, the club will be investing in the professional development of 5 full-time professional coaching staff who will focus on enhancing Youth Development and Competitive programs.

The facility is set to open its doors for a soft opening in January with an official opening ceremony scheduled for early February, offering a transformative space for the soccer community to participate in events, tournaments and leagues.

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As PVSC is a 501C3 Non Profit, the club is asking local businesses and families to support the clubs efforts through advertising and sponsorships. Information is available on their website: www.pvscunited.com.

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Project Pinecone aims to recover Idaho’s forests after Wapiti Fire • Utah News Dispatch

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Project Pinecone aims to recover Idaho’s forests after Wapiti Fire • Utah News Dispatch


One organization is aiming to help forest managers recover the trees lost in one of Idaho’s most devastating fires this summer.

On Nov. 3, the nonprofit Daughters of the American Revolution launched a fundraising campaign to raise money to help restore scorched south and central Idaho forests.

The Wapiti Fire, which began on July 24 by a lightning strike two miles southwest of Grandjean, spanned about 130,000 acres across the Boise National Forest, Sawtooth National Forest and the Salmon-Challis National Forest.

Coined Project Pinecone, the funds raised will be used to hire professional tree climbers for the Sawtooth National Forest who will pick pinecones off trees to harvest mature seeds that will be used to grow and eventually replant trees back into the Sawtooth National Forest.

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As of Monday, the Project Pinecone had raised a total of $11,500, including cash and check donations outside of the PayPal fundraiser, lead organizer Janice Beller said.

Beller is the Idaho state leader of the nonprofit. Like others in the organization, she is a descendant of someone who participated in the American Revolution. Conservation is important to the organization and important to her as a fifth generation Idahoan, she told the Idaho Capital Sun.

“Stanley is one of my favorite places in the world, and it has been in my family for years —  literally generations,” she said. “When Stanley burned this summer, it just broke my heart and really had a kind of a profound impact on many members within Daughters of the American Revolution.”

‘We have a lot of need for seed’: Sawtooth forester says 

Beller said a member of her leadership team reached out to a Stanley forest ranger to ask how they could help restore the forest. That’s when she learned about the shortage in seeds at Lucky Peak Nursery, located off Highway 21 outside of Boise.

Nelson Mills, the timber and silviculture program manager for the Sawtooth National Forest, said his biggest challenge is that forest staff hasn’t collected enough its seeds to replenish its seed bank at Lucky Peak Nursery.

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Pinecones are collected by professional tree climbers who use harnesses and spurred boots to climb trees between 75 and 120 feet tall. The pinecones are then transferred to Lucky Peak Nursery for seed processing. (Courtesy of Bill Josey)

Forest service staff right now have enough seeds to cover 50 to 80 acres of trees suitable for the Stanley area at its nursery, Mills said. However, that is not nearly enough to recover the forest from the Wapiti Fire.

Mills said that wildfires are a natural part of the ecosystem, but catastrophic wildfires like the Wapiti Fire will require artificial tree restoration. Of the 130,000 acres that were burned in the Wapiti Fire, 485 acres have been identified as requiring immediate reforestation need because the seed bed was completely burnt, Mills said. When a more formal assessment is done this winter, forest staff will likely find more acres in need of seedling planting, he said.

In addition to the seed shortage, harvesting pinecones is a complicated, risky and expensive process, Mills said.

The main way to collect pinecone seeds is by hiring professional tree climbers for $2,500 a day. Equipped with harnesses and spurred boots, they climb trees between 75 and 120 feet tall to collect pinecones at the perfect ripeness.

Timing is crucial, as ripeness varies by species and elevation, typically occurring between mid-August to mid-September, Mills said. An unripe pinecone won’t have a viable embryo, an overripe pinecone opens and releases its seeds, and pinecones that have fallen on the ground have been exposed to mold — making the seeds unsuitable for use, he said.

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The pinecones are then transferred to Lucky Peak Nursery where they are tested, processed, cleaned and sown to make baby lodgepole pines, ponderosa pines and Douglas firs.

Mills said Project Pinecone creates flexibility for foresters because it is not congressionally appropriated. If it’s not a good pinecone producing year, he said foresters can wait until the next year, or look at other species in a different area.

“Everybody is stepping up through all phases of this reforestation issue to make a solution and grow forests back specifically in the Stanley basin that was affected by the Wapiti Fire,” Mills said. “It is an amazing collaborative effort, and I am just so thankful that people want to get together and grow a forest ecosystem.”

Fundraiser to last until spring 2025

Beller said the fundraiser will last until May, when she plans to hold a ceremony to present the funds to the Stanley community and forest officials. She said she is encouraging individuals to donate, as it is tax deductible, and people who donate more than $10 will receive a wooden magnet with the project’s logo.

The total goal of the project is to raise $15,000, which would pay for six days of pinecone picking.

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The fundraiser is partnering with Boise Cascade, which committed to a day’s worth of pinecone picking to the project.

“Boise Cascade’s roots run deep in the state of Idaho, and we are honored to contribute to this incredible project to help restore some of Idaho’s most cherished forest lands that were burned during the brutal fire season of summer 2024,” Boise Cascade Vice President of Human Resources and contributions committee chair Angella Broesch, told the Sun. “As one of the largest producers of wood products in North America and a leading wholesale distributor of building products in the U.S., our company is committed to contributing to responsible forestry practices and protecting our environment.”

Having surpassed the halfway point of its goal, Beller said the successful donations show how much people from Idaho and outside of Idaho care about the Stanley area.

“We’ve heard so many people say that it’s truly the heart of Idaho, and it means a great deal to them and their families,” Beller said. “So to see everybody come together and contribute even just a little to bring it back is very humbling.”

Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: [email protected].

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