Governor’s executive budget emphasizes K-12 funding, reserves and new wildfire, transportation investments

BOISE — Laurie Wolf, administrator of the Division of Financial Management, presented Governor Brad Little’s executive budget to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Jan. 8, describing the proposal as “his keeping promises budget” and framing it around education, infrastructure and fiscal conservatism.

The budget package uses conservative revenue assumptions while leaving significant reserves and proposes record transfers to state stabilization accounts. Wolf told the committee the executive recommendation includes about $151 million in recommended enhancements for fiscal 2026, a projected $227 million ending general-fund balance in FY 2026 after transfers, and transfers that would move funds into the budget stabilization and public education stabilization accounts.

Why it matters

The governor’s plan would direct sizeable new resources to public schools, wildfire funding and transportation while holding $100 million in potential tax relief for later legislative action. The package’s mix of one-time and ongoing funding, and its transfers to rainy-day funds, set priorities and guardrails for the legislature as it moves into week-by-week budget hearings.

Key numbers and priorities

- Education: The budget recommends $150 million in additional funding for public schools, including $83 million toward teacher pay and nearly $30 million for teacher health insurance. The proposal sets aside $50 million as a revenue adjustment for potential education…