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JFAC approves $644,400 in dedicated funds for Idaho State Liquor Division enhancements
Summary
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved $644,400 in dedicated funds for the Idaho State Liquor Division for staffing, shrink-wrap, website accessibility, ITS hardware and replacement items, carrying a due-pass recommendation to the full legislature.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted Thursday to add $644,400 from dedicated funds to the Idaho State Liquor Division’s FY 2026 budget for several operational enhancements.
The additional funding covers a pay increase for temporary store clerks, shrink-wrap costs tied to a new freight contract, website upgrades to meet web content accessibility guidelines, and information technology and security hardware and replacement items recommended by the Office of Information Technology Services (ITS).
Kellen McGurkin, budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, told the committee the division requested seven enhancements totaling $1,721,700 in dedicated funds for FY 2026, including $57,400 ongoing to raise the hourly rate for part-time retail staff and one-time requests for network security, retail replacement items and vehicle replacements. McGurkin said the division’s retail positions have an annual turnover of about 80 percent and that temporary staff are not counted in the agency’s FTP allocation.
Senator Carl Carlson moved the JFAC program maintenance adjustments and itemized the additions, including $57,400 for temporary store clerk pay, $72,000 for shrink-wrap, $75,000 for website accessibility work, $205,000 for retail replacement items and $235,000 for ITS hardware. Representative Tanner seconded the motion. Senator Wintrow urged caution about dedicated-business budgets but said she would probably support the motion; Senator Ziderfeld said, on the record, he prefers private-sector delivery of liquor sales and suggested it was a policy matter for later consideration. Co-chair comments indicated some members oppose liquor-related budgets generally but would vote to move the item forward to the floor.
Roll call produced a committee vote in favor: a combined total of 15 ayes, 4 nays, and 1 absent/excused. The motion carried and, without objection, will carry a due-pass recommendation to the full legislature.
The committee record shows the Liquor Division’s distributions and statutory authority were discussed; McGurkin referenced Idaho Code section 23,404 when summarizing FY 2024 distributions.
The committee did not change the statutory distribution language; it approved only the funding adjustments and enhancements as moved.
Looking ahead, the committee’s due-pass recommendation sends the enhancement package to the larger legislative process for consideration and possible inclusion in the FY 2026 appropriation bill.
