JFAC approves trimmed Idaho Transportation Department budget, large transfers to dedicated funds

BOISE — The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee approved a pared-down budget package for the Idaho Transportation Department that reduces overall appropriation from prior requests but authorizes large transfers and reappropriation authority for construction and right‑of‑way projects.

The committee voted to approve multiple ITD motions that together provided reappropriation authority, dedicated‑fund projects and one‑time spending for aeronautics grants, capital facilities and highway construction. Senator Brooke Dupree, a legislative budget analyst, told the committee the package includes a governor initiative for $10 million from the state aeronautics fund for grants and equipment and reappropriation requests for capital facilities and aeronautics programs.

Why it matters: The motions set spending authority for large construction and right‑of‑way projects and moved one year of general‑fund transfers into transportation dedicated funds—changes that affect how and when ITD can spend federal and state transportation monies.

The committee approved a motion to add $71,371,600 from dedicated funds and $13,592,000 from federal funds for the Highway Operations Division, covering targeted pay adjustments, heavy‑equipment replacement, public transit reimbursements and other items. Representative Woodward, who moved the package, said it “includes $55,613,000 for replacement items” driven mainly by heavy equipment such as backhoes and loaders.

The panel also approved reappropriation and spending authority for capital construction and right‑of‑way acquisition. Representative Cook moved a motion transferring $275 million from the general fund to dedicated funds; the motion passed with the committee endorsing $165 million to the strategic initiatives program dedicated fund and $110 million to the local highway distribution fund to be distributed early in the fiscal year. Senator Cook described the transfer as one that “causes it to default to continuous appropriation as established in code.”

A substitute motion to send a smaller transfer of $150 million failed on the floor. Senator Hart said he offered the alternative because “this is the fifth or sixth year we've gone into the general fund to fund the Idaho Department of Transportation” and wanted more time to review whether continuing general‑fund transfers is appropriate.

The committee approved language restricting some grant awards: ITD must confirm that local airports are not in violation of federal policy on non‑aeronautical use of hangars before awarding airport development grants, and the committee approved intent language directing at least $13.2 million to a road‑widening project on a town center arterial meeting traffic thresholds and at least $50 million for a residential mobility arterial that connects a state highway to a U.S. highway (language sponsors cited Linder Road in Boise as an example).

Committee debate highlighted fiscal tradeoffs. Senator Ward Engelking warned that reduced maintenance funding could affect bridges and safety, saying she was “very concerned that we are underfunding maintenance.” Several members pointed to long‑term revenue pressure for transportation revenues, including fuel‑tax erosion from inflation, as context for the department’s reduced appropriation.

The motions passed by recorded roll calls; where votes split, the committee used standard procedure to record Senate and House votes separately and then the combined result. The overall package passed and will carry a due‑pass recommendation to the full legislature.

Ending note: Several members said this year's package reflected compromise among work‑group participants and that further review of funding sources and long‑term revenue strategies for ITD may be required in later sessions.