Idaho Liquor Division requests IT, store and pay upgrades as distributions and balances shift

The Idaho State Liquor Division told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee that it is seeking a mix of ongoing and one-time funding to support store relocations and remodels, technology and security upgrades, and a small hourly increase for temporary retail staff.

Kellen McGurkin, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee the division distributed $118,300,000 in FY2024 under Idaho law, with statutory distributions and operating costs determined under Idaho Code section 23-404. McGurkin said the division’s five‑year average sales were about $319,100,000 and that net income, after operating costs, averaged about 36% of sales (roughly $116,600,000).

The division reported a decline in its unrestricted fund balance from about $38,000,000 in FY2022 to $14,000,000 in FY2024. McGurkin said the drop reflected higher direct‑to‑consumer sales during the COVID‑19 period that carried higher margins and were subsequently spent down.

Why it matters: The liquor division’s net revenue is a regular source of…