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JFAC approves supplemental and transfer for Idaho State Historical Society, moves remaining America250 funds to treasurer-held account
Summary
Committee approved funding additions for the Idaho State Historical Society’s old penitentiary operations and collections move, then approved a supplemental reduction and transfer moving the remaining America250 appropriation into an America250 Commemoration Fund at the State Treasurer.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 24 approved multiple actions affecting the Idaho State Historical Society (ISHS): an enhancement to the agency’s FY2026 maintenance budget for staffing, a supplemental trailer-bill transfer tied to America250 funding, and a related transfer and appropriation to the State Treasurer for the America250 Commemoration Fund.
Earlier in the meeting, Legislative Services Office analyst explained an FY2026 program maintenance motion adding staff and one-time moving and IT costs for the ISHS. The committee approved adding two full-time positions and $141,000 for old Idaho penitentiary staff (a store manager and an education specialist), $62,900 for a limited-service archivist technician, $450,000 one-time for moving state collections and archives into a centralized climate-controlled location and $90,200 for IT hardware. The motion requested an additional $506,900 from the general fund, $174,300 from dedicated funds and $62,900 from federal funds, for a total of $744,100 and three additional full‑time equivalents; committee roll call recorded a combined total of 14 ayes and 6 nays and the motion passed.
Later the committee considered a supplemental tied to House Bill 357, the trailer bill that establishes the America250 Commemoration Fund and oversight council. The record shows $1,650,000 had been appropriated earlier for America250; ISHS had expended $128,725 of that appropriation and provided a handout showing expenditures. Representative Mitchell moved to reduce ISHS’s FY2025 general‑fund appropriation by $821,200 — the remaining balance from the previously appropriated $1,650,000 — and the committee approved the reduction unanimously (20–0 combined), with the motion described as moving the remaining balance into the America250 fund under the advisory committee’s oversight.
Committee staff then presented the treasurer-side supplemental to transfer $821,200 from the general fund to establish and appropriate that amount to the America250 Commemoration Fund at the State Treasurer and to allow reappropriation of any remaining funds into the next fiscal year. The treasurer transfer motion passed unanimously.
Committee members asked whether the $450,000 moving request was a one‑time cost; LSO staff confirmed it was a one‑time request and that ISHS anticipates the total moving cost will be about $900,000 over two years. Members also asked whether earlier appropriations for a new building had included moving funds; ISHS leadership indicated the building appropriation did not include moving costs.
The committee recorded these items as due‑pass recommendations to accompany the agency’s budget materials. Members did not establish additional reporting requirements for the ISHS during this session.
