Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historical Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Idaho State Historical Society requests spending authority, staff and moving funds for archives and Old Pen projects
Summary
The Idaho State Historical Society presented budget items including spending authority for raised funds, staffing for the Old Idaho Penitentiary, a digitization position and one-time moving costs for consolidating collections; the agency also described America 250 commemoration spending.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Oct. 12 heard the Idaho State Historical Society's FY2026 budget presentation, which included requests for spending authority to use donated and grant funds, staff for the Old Idaho Penitentiary, an archivist technician, and one-time moving and equipment costs to consolidate collections.
Director Janet Gallimore told legislators the agency's budget is roughly split between general fund and non-state revenue: "we raise a little bit over about half and half. Our budget's made up half and half general fund and then non state funding," she said, explaining why the agency seeks statutory spending authority to accept and expend gifts, grants and fundraising proceeds.
Requests and program details
Analysts outlined several line items: an ongoing archivist technician position ($62,900 ongoing) to digitize historical records; a $450,000 one-time request to cover moving costs while consolidating off-site storage into the State Archives facility; and a $90,200 one-time hardware purchase recommended by the Office of Information Technology Services. The agency also sought re-appropriation authority to spend $1,650,000 in general funds set aside for America 250 commemoration activities.
Gallimore described the consolidation scope and timelines: staff obtained moving estimates to relocate "about 30,000 boxes of records and then about 50,000 artifacts" into a single, climate-controlled facility and expects the physical move to span portions of two fiscal years. She said some off-site storage facilities were built in the 1960s and consolidation will improve collections care and operational efficiency.
Old Idaho Penitentiary and fundraising
The society is implementing a business plan for the Old Idaho Penitentiary to increase educational programming and earned revenue; the plan recommended new staff to expand visitor programming and retail operations. Gallimore said the agency is conducting a $2,000,000 campaign for the site and that funds raised for specific projects require spending authority and proper accounting. She told the committee the agency typically raises about a quarter-million dollars annually for education programs from donations and partnerships.
Committee members asked for follow-up details on how fundraising dollars were spent, the data showing returns on recently added positions at the Old Pen, and a status report on the America 250 commemorative program. Gallimore said roughly $1.4 million of the commemorative appropriation was obligated to grants and partner contracts and offered to provide the committee with more specific financial and program data.
Exhibit and other notes
Gallimore also introduced artifacts tied to Idaho naval history — silver service items used aboard earlier vessels named USS Idaho — and explained the society's plan to curate items that will be carried on the latest vessel bearing the state name.
The committee did not take formal votes on the Historical Society's requests at the hearing; members asked the agency to return with more detailed spending and program metrics.
