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Department of Lands seeks staff and one‑time spending for wildfire work; governor proposes large transfers to suppression fund
Summary
The Idaho Department of Lands detailed budget requests that include new fire‑program positions, one‑time purchases and support for Timber Protective Associations; the governor recommended transfers and some bonuses, and moved Good Neighbor Authority funding to a continuously appropriated structure.
The Idaho Department of Lands told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Thursday it is requesting a mix of ongoing positions and one‑time funding to support fire suppression, prevention and forestry programs statewide. Department officials and Legislative Services staff briefed the committee on the agency’s consolidated funds, the fire suppression deficiency warrant (a continuously appropriated fund) and multiple line‑item enhancement requests.
Why it matters: The Department of Lands oversees trust lands and coordinates wildfire response and forest‑management programs across Idaho. Funding decisions affect preparedness, suppression capacity and programs that contract for restoration on federal lands.
Janet Jessup, budget and policy analyst, described the agency's fund structure and noted that the fire suppression deficiency warrant is continuously appropriated and historically has been prefunded by the legislature since 2015 to cover anticipated fire costs. She said the governor recommended a $40 million transfer from the general fund to the fire suppression deficiency fund and a $60 million…
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