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Idaho Gov. Brad Little says JFAC’s budget changes could have unintended consequences – Idaho Capital Sun

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Idaho Gov. Brad Little says JFAC’s budget changes could have unintended consequences – Idaho Capital Sun


Although he is prepared to work with whatever alterations legislators come up with, Idaho Gov. Brad Little said the changes that the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee is making to the state’s budget process could have unintended consequences.

This year, the co-chairs of the budget committee, Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, and Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Eagle, announced several new changes to JFAC. The co-chairs said the changes are designed to allow JFAC members to dive deeper into the budgets and spending requests, increase transparency and improve efficiency during the legislative session by moving budgets to the floor of the Idaho House of Representatives and Idaho Senate earlier in the session.

In an interview Wednesday at the Idaho State Capitol, Little said he doesn’t know exactly how JFAC’s budget and process changes will work or what some of the exact details will be in the end. One concern is it could make it more difficult to pass recommendations and requests for new funding

“But we don’t know what it is yet,” Little said.

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The changes to JFAC include:

  • The committee shortened the public portion of its daily budget meetings by about an hour and a half each day. Now, JFAC members spend about an hour and a half each day in public meetings where legislators listen to budget hearings led by a state budget analyst and have an opportunity to ask questions of department heads and agency directors. During the other hour and a half, JFAC members meet privately in smaller working groups, where they are actually writing the budgets.
  • JFAC divided budgets up differently, separating out bare-bones maintenance of current operations budgets from the new spending recommendations and requests and line items that will now be considered separately. JFAC passed the bare-bones maintenance of operations budgets on Jan. 16 and will begin considering the line items this morning. 
  • JFAC and the Idaho Legislative Services Office staff launched a new budget information website that is designed to make more budget documents and presentations available to the public and legislators in one place. 
  • JFAC’s co-chairs will put spending limits in place that are designed to reduce the increases in state spending and leave funding available for legislative priorities that were not included in Little’s fiscal year 2025 budget request. 
  • As part of a change that started last year, JFAC votes are announced jointly as a committee and separately by legislative chamber. If a budget receives support from a majority of the committee but does not receive a majority of votes from JFAC members in one of the legislative chambers, then that budget can be sent back to be reworked. For example, if JFAC’s Senate members voted 7-3 to pass a budget but JFAC’s House members split 5-5 over the budget, the budget could be sent back even though the vote of the full committee was 12-8 in favor of passing the budget. 
  • In additional changes that will be implemented in the spring and the fall after the legislative session adjourns, JFAC members will participate in spring and fall working tours where they will go beyond the new spending increases and drill down into the “base” of the budgets to really scrutinize the existing components of each state agency’s budget. 

Idaho governor says JFAC’s long-established previous rules worked well

JFAC is different from many legislative committees because it includes 10 members each from the Idaho House and Idaho Senate. Most committees, like the House Health and Welfare Committee, only include members of one legislative chamber or the other. 

Before the changes were implemented, JFAC voted jointly as one committee. JFAC also considered the maintenance budgets and the new funding requests and line items together as one budget. 

Idaho Legislature’s JFAC sets bare-bones ‘maintenance of current operations’ budgets 

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Little said JFAC’s previous procedures and rules that were in place before the new changes were time-tested and well respected – with Idaho consistently setting balanced budgets and the state recently posting record-breaking $2 billion state budget surpluses.

“It is the most replicated system in the nation,” Little told the Sun. “When they started the joint process it wasn’t too long before I interned there in 1976, and ever since then it’s been very, very replicated. So if you are going to make a change, what are the intended and the unintended consequences? (There is also) the issue of who gets to define ‘maintenance?’”

One unintended consequence Little sees is it could be more difficult to pass the line items and new budget requests because the maintenance budgets are separated out and the line items are isolated.

“Here’s my experience,” Little said. “If I’ve got an agency who wants to do line items and the line item increases spending by 7 or 8%, a lot of times they look at the rest of the budget and say ‘well if you’re going to do this, maybe we can cut this (other area) back.’ But if everything else is set, that option is more difficult. When I’m setting the budget and they come in with their request, the agency request, I do that. I look and say, ‘well, if they want to do this, can I make up this difference (elsewhere).’”

Two examples of new spending requests that are not in the maintenance of operations budgets are a $6.6 million request for the state’s response to invasive quagga mussels detected in the Snake River near Twin Falls and Little’s 10-year, $2 billion proposal to repair and replace Idaho’s aging, crumbling public school facilities.

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Even as these new changes continue to play out, Little said he is confident the state budgets will get set this year and he and his staff will be able to work with new procedures and budget formats JFAC implements.

“Obviously it’s totally their process and my (Division of Financial Management) staff, we’ll honor whatever they want to do,” Little said. “

Idaho Freedom Caucus member voices support for JFAC changes 

On Jan. 16, JFAC approved bare-bones, maintenance of current operations budgets that are designed to keep the lights on next year for state agencies. The maintenance budgets are basically a version of last year’s budgets put forward for next year with all of the one-time funding removed. The maintenance budgets reduce state general fund spending for next year by $46.6 million compared to the original budget JFAC set last year. 

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In an interview Tuesday at the Idaho State Capitol, Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle, said he joins many of his constituents and fellow Freedom Caucus members in the Idaho Legislature in supporting JFAC’s changes. 

Citing a presentation from Legislative Services Office budget and policy division manager Keith Bybee, Herndon told the Sun that JFAC only used to analyze about 19% of state spending. Meanwhile, Herndon said government spending grew by 54% between 2020 and 2024. JFAC’s new changes – from the working groups, to the maintenance budgets to the base budget deep dives – give legislators more ability to scrutinize the budget and zero in on new funding requests and line items. 

Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle, listens to debate on the Senate floor at the State Capitol building on Jan. 23, 2024. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun)

“This really puts us more into what our role is supposed to be,” Herndon said. “I would classify myself as 100% satisfied.”

“Most members of the Idaho Freedom Caucus are very much in favor of the changes for the same reasons I like the changes,” Herndon added. 

Herndon supports limiting growth in government spending and hopes to pass a new income tax cut this year, pushing the state’s flare tax rate of 5.8% even lower.

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 “I want to see the trend come back to normal,” Herndon said. “We cannot cut taxes unless we cut spending. That’s the bottom line.”

Separating the maintenance budgets makes it easier to drill down deep and analyze the new spending requests, Herndon said. Then, he can vote against the ones he disagrees with without voting against an entire budget.

For example, last year Herndon voted against the K-12 public schools operations budget, Senate Bill 1206. Herndon told the Idaho Capital Sun he agreed with a lot of what was in the budget, but he disagreed with one of the funding request line items that was included and voted against the entire budget. 

Under JFAC’s new rules, Herndon already voted for the public schools maintenance of operations budgets. Now, he can vote against any new funding requests he disagrees with without having to vote against the maintenance of operations budgets.

“I suspect in future years agencies will be much more thorough in justifying their line item requests when they realize they will get a little more attention,” Herndon said.  

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Herndon told the Sun he thinks the dustup over JFAC’s rules and voting is just a distraction. Herndon said the rules and voting procedures work because JFAC used them to set the entire state budget last year. If it isn’t about rehashing rules and procedural debates, Herndon said the real reason might be because somebody is worried that their budget won’t pass or worried that their line items will get shot down. 

What will it take to consider new spending requests in Idaho budgets?

Because funding is already provided for state agencies in the maintenance of operations budgets, JFAC members will likely have to vote to reopen each budget before considering the new funding line items. 

JFAC’s co-chairs, Grow and Horman, previously told the Sun they will first ask for permission to reopen the budgets in what is called a unanimous consent request. If any JFAC members objects to the request, Horman and Grow told the Sun it would take a simple majority vote to reopen the budgets and consider the new funding requests.

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Perhaps offering a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes debate over JFAC rules, votes and procedures, Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, has said publicly that she believes it takes a two-thirds majority vote to reopen any budgets to consider new funding requests. 

Ward-Engelking and other Democrats have told the Sun they are worried that JFAC’s new procedures to break the budgets into different pieces and separate out the maintenance budgets will make it harder to approve the new funding requests for next year’s budgets, and at the same time free up funding in the budget for legislative priorities that are not in Little’s budget, like a new tax cut or funding for school choice tax credits or voucher-like programs.

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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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