Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Information Technology topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
JFAC advances IT consolidation, approves ITS supplemental and directs statewide IT survey
Summary
The committee approved a FY2025 one-time supplemental for the Office of Information Technology Services to furnish temporary workspace and advanced an FY2026 package that adds staff, hardware, and consolidation funding; the committee also adopted language directing a statewide IT resources and services survey.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved an $81,700 one-time supplemental on behalf of the Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) to purchase office equipment and temporary workstations to accommodate employees transferring from Idaho State Police and juvenile corrections. The committee also advanced a larger FY2026 ITS package that adds positions, infrastructure funding, and hardware replacement funds related to statewide IT consolidation.
Kellen McGurkin and Christopher LaHozet, budget analysts with Legislative Services, briefed the committee on ITS’s role consolidating executive-branch IT functions and on requested supplemental and enhancement items. The FY2025 supplemental approved $81,700 from the general fund to buy cubicles, chairs and temporary space equipment to bridge staffing transitions; committee members approved the motion without extended debate.
For FY2026, the committee considered an enhancement bundle that included funds for office space on the Chinden campus, enterprise security hardware, emergency connectivity, IT infrastructure and tools (including ServiceNow), and funding to cover transfer of personnel into ITS from other agencies. Representative Petzke moved a package that would add 22 FTP to ITS and an appropriation totaling $10,934,000 (combining general and dedicated funds) for consolidation and replacement items. The motion passed in committee and included a direction in committee language for ITS and the Division of Financial Management to survey executive-branch agency IT resources, services and equipment and to report recommendations to the legislature for cost efficiencies and consolidation opportunities.
Why it matters: the ITS consolidation and the committee-requested survey aim to centralize IT resources to increase efficiencies across state government. Committee language requires ITS and DFM to report back to the legislature with recommendations and cost-efficiency assessments.
Committee members discussed differences between the agency’s original requests and the governor’s recommendation, including an approximately $4.0 million gap related to IT hardware replacements. Committee members reduced one line item (office furnishing capital outlay) by $200,000 in committee motions but acknowledged that future supplemental requests could appear as consolidation and transfers continue.
The committee sent the ITS supplemental, FY2026 enhancements and the survey language forward with due-pass recommendations.
