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Fish and Game details grant balances, Valley Fire rehab and website overhaul to appropriators
Summary
The Department of Fish and Game told the committee it relies on dedicated license revenue and federal grants, plans a sizable one‑time enhancement package for FY2026 including fire rehabilitation after the Valley Fire, a website overhaul and remote connectivity at hatcheries, and explained a 2024 cash-balance dip tied to federal grant billing.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game briefed the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Oct. 23 about fund balances, ongoing operations and a request for roughly $18.18 million in FY2026 enhancements—most of it one-time—covering replacement items, remote connectivity, a website overhaul and rehabilitation work after this fall’s Valley Fire.
Director Jim Fredericks told lawmakers the department receives no general fund support and operates mostly on dedicated license revenue and federal grants. Budget analyst Janet Jessup highlighted that the Fish and Game Fund collects hunting and fishing licenses, tags and permits and that some fees are statutorily set aside for specific purposes; she cited the steelhead (anadromous) license set-aside as an example used to fund access and parking-area work.
Cash balances and federal billing
Lawmaker questions about a dip in license fund cash balances for FY2024 prompted Fish and Game Chief of Administration John…
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