Joint finance committee reviews Department of Administration budget; governor's housing fund faces depletion

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Presidents Day reviewed the Department of Administration budget, hearing from Frances Lippett, budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, and Department of Administration Director Steve Bailey about staffing, insurance and facility needs and a request to shore up the governor's housing fund.

Lippett told the committee the Department of Administration “houses four divisions” and draws most of its appropriation from dedicated funds, with roughly 10% from the general fund. She said the department is currently authorized 34 full-time positions and has filled approximately 92% of that authorization over the last five years.

The presentation included the governor's housing committee and the governor's residence fund. Lippett said the committee and fund are established in Idaho Code and that the fund “provides a monthly housing stipend to the governor currently set at 4,551” and “has no consistent source of revenue.” She told the committee the department requested a $30,000 appropriation from the…