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JFAC adopts $6.4 billion FY2026 revenue forecast; approves two corrections funding items
Summary
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee adopted a $6.4 billion general fund revenue projection for FY2026 and approved two Department of Correction funding items: a body‑worn camera pilot supplemental and Community Corrections budget enhancements.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee (JFAC) voted to adopt the Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee’s recommended general fund revenue number of $6,400,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, and it approved two supplemental funding items for the Department of Correction.
Revenue forecast vote
The committee voted to set the fiscal 2026 general fund revenue projection at $6.4 billion. The committee record shows the measure passed with the majority threshold: overall tally reported at 16 ayes, 2 nays and 2 absent/excused. Senator Janie Ward Engleking said she would vote no, arguing the revenue projection should be set earlier in the process so spending and tax decisions follow the revenue baseline. "I will be voting no on this because I think this is the wrong way to do our budgets ... I believe this revenue projection should have been set at the beginning of the session," Engleking said.
Department of Correction — body-worn camera pilot (supplemental)
The committee approved a supplemental appropriation to support a federal body‑worn camera pilot in the state prisons division. The motion as recorded provided a total of $1,058,900 for year one of the pilot, with $27,000 from the general fund and $1,023,900 from federal funds; staff explained future state match requests will be presented in subsequent fiscal years. The committee recorded the motion as passing with a combined majority: the tally reported in the meeting was 15 ayes, 4 nays, and 1 absent/excused.
Department of Correction — Community Corrections Division budget enhancements (FY2026)
JFAC approved several enhancement requests for the Community Corrections Division, including the annualization of personnel costs at the Pocatello Community Reentry Center, general inflation increases, and replacement items. The motion recorded an additional $116,200 from the general fund and $2,350,800 from dedicated funds for a combined total of $2,467,000. The committee recorded the vote as passing with 16 ayes, 3 nays and 1 absent/excused.
Why it matters: The revenue projection sets the top line for budget deliberations and affects what spending and tax measures the legislature can adopt without exceeding the revenue estimate. The corrections items reflect ongoing state investments in custody operations and community supervision that will appear in upcoming appropriation bills.
The committee wrapped its agenda and adjusted its scheduling to allow budget working groups additional time to prepare motions for later votes.
