Governor's office seeks $1.35 million cash transfer to replenish emergency fund, $250,000 for America 250 activities

The Executive Office of the Governor appeared before the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Feb. 18 to review a budget that includes a recommendation to transfer $1,350,000 in general‑fund cash to restore the governor’s emergency fund to a $2,000,000 base appropriation and a $250,000 one‑time general‑fund request to implement objectives of the White House Task Force on America’s 250th birthday.

Christopher LaHozet, budget and policy analyst for the Legislative Services Office, said the governor’s emergency fund cash balance has declined to roughly $650,000 after prior authorizations and expenditures, including reimbursements tied to the University of Idaho Moscow murder investigations and the Esto Perpetua (Fight Fentanyl) program. LaHozet described the $1,350,000 cash transfer as intended to bring the fund balance back to the legislatively appropriated $2,000,000 so the governor has both appropriation and cash available for future emergencies.

LaHozet also summarized a $45,000 one‑time ITS replacement request (network switches, wireless access points, desktop/laptop replacements) and explained a spending authorization of $250,000 the governor recommends to support Idaho participation in Task Force 2250 activities, citing a presidential executive order described in the governor’s request.

Committee concerns and follow‑up requests: lawmakers asked for itemized details about in‑state charter flight and travel expenditures, the constituent services management platform that had been described in the budget book (the agency examined Salesforce but determined it may be cost‑prohibitive), and transaction detail on interagency personnel reimbursements and transfers.

Laurie Wolf, administrator for the Division of Financial Management (DFM), explained that interagency personnel reimbursements (the so‑called "10 P" process) have been an established practice for decades to reimburse personnel time when staff perform work for other agencies. Wolf said the state’s new LUMA accounting system replicates that reimbursement process and that DFM and the controller’s office can produce transaction detail. She agreed to provide committee members the requested breakdowns of transfers, reimbursements and travel/charter costs.

On constituent services, Wolf said the governor’s office received funding in FY25 to acquire a constituent management platform and had considered Salesforce but found it potentially cost‑prohibitive; the office is exploring other options and has not expended the appropriation. LaHozet confirmed a one‑time implementation appropriation had been included in the prior year’s budget but the ongoing subscription and implementation plan remain under review.

Lawmakers also requested a spreadsheet with expenditures related to the governor’s emergency fund and asked for an itemized list for the Office of Information Technology Services hardware purchases tied to the $45,000 request. Analysts agreed to provide those materials to the full committee.

No formal committee actions were taken during the presentation; members emphasized transparency around interagency transfers and asked DFM and the governor’s office to supply more transaction‑level documentation so legislators can assess whether reimbursements represent discrete work products or routine personnel cost allocation.

Ending: DFM reiterated its willingness to provide detailed transaction records, and the committee directed staff to circulate requested spreadsheets and documentation ahead of budget setting later in the week.