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Geologic survey seeks permanent funding for database manager; director urges data preservation for mineral exploration
Summary
The Idaho Geological Survey requested additional general fund support to convert a grant‑funded database manager position to permanent status, and discussed expanding a core and sample repository to preserve exploration data for public use.
The Idaho Geological Survey (IGS) told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee it needs additional general fund support to make a database manager position permanent after several years of grant funding, and urged investment in data preservation and a physical core repository to support mineral exploration.
IGS Director and State Geologist Claudio Berti told lawmakers the position has been funded by grants and by revenue from abandoned‑mine projects but grant funding is not guaranteed. He said making the role permanent would reduce program fragility and allow IGS to match federal grant dollars at a 2:1 rate and that losing the position would be “catastrophic for the survey.”
"This position has been historically grant funded. The reason why we are asking a permanent position is that the work that this position does is fundamental to our agency," Berti said.
Kevin Campbell of the Legislative Services Office outlined IGS’s recent budget history and said personnel costs comprised roughly 76.5% of the agency’s expenses in 2024; the agency sought a 0.13 FTE increase for its database manager in FY2026. Committee members questioned whether the position could continue to be supported with grants; Berti said grant programs such as abandoned‑mine funds previously supported the work but those sources may not persist and that a permanent funding source would enable IGS to leverage federal funds more reliably.
Berti also described the agency’s data‑preservation program and the case for a physical core repository to preserve drill cores and other physical samples from exploration. He said other states maintain repositories that preserve costly exploration data, which the state and companies could use to avoid duplicative drilling and permitting costs.
Members asked about the IGS role in economic assessment and partnerships with university centers; Berti said the survey provides geologic and resource assessment data and is working to expand collaborations to include economic analysis. There were no committee votes on IGS items during the hearing.
