JFAC approves major transfers and project-specific conditions in Idaho Transportation Department budget

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on a bipartisan vote approved multiple adjustments to the Idaho Transportation Department’s budget, including a $275 million transfer from the general fund to dedicated transportation funds and supplemental spending and reappropriation authority for construction and right-of-way projects.

The committee approved a motion to transfer $275 million from the general fund to dedicated funds for ITD; the motion, offered by Representative Sandra Cook, passed after debate and a roll-call vote. The committee also approved supplemental and base-budget motions that together provide reappropriation authority and spending authority for capital construction, right-of-way acquisition, and airport development grants.

The package included: authority to reappropriate up to $300 million for contract construction and right-of-way acquisition; supplemental authority of $60 million for current-year capital construction and right-of-way acquisition (of which $10 million is State Highway local fund and $50 million is State Highway federal fund); and an ITD request that…