Governor's office seeks to replenish emergency fund, proposes America250 spending and constituent-services platform

The Executive Office of the Governor presented its budget to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Feb. 18 and requested a $1.35 million transfer to restore the governor’s emergency fund to its $2 million base, along with a $250,000 one-time proposal to implement objectives tied to a federal executive order commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Christopher LaHozet, budget and policy analyst with the legislative services office, said the governor’s emergency fund currently has roughly $650,000 in cash available; the governor’s office spent about $1.4 million in fiscal 2023–24 to reimburse the Idaho State Police for the University of Idaho Moscow murder investigations and to support an anti-fentanyl effort called Esto Perpetua. LaHozet said the $1.35 million cash transfer would restore the fund’s cash balance to match the $2 million base appropriation.

LaHozet also described a $250,000 one-time general-fund recommendation to support the White House Task Force tied to America250 (a presidential executive order referenced by LaHozet). The governor’s office said it would collaborate with existing Idaho advisory councils to align state events and participation with federal guidance.

On technology and constituent services, committee members asked about a previously authorized appropriation for a constituent-services management platform. LaHozet said the governor’s office explored Salesforce but found it cost-prohibitive; he said the office is reviewing other options and has not spent the FY25 appropriation. Division of Financial Management Administrator Lori Wolf confirmed the governor’s office has not yet spent the appropriation and said the office is formulating a phased approach to requirements and will seek more cost-effective alternatives.

Transparency and interagency personnel reimbursements drew sustained committee attention. Representative Tanner and others questioned transfers into the governor’s budget from other agencies, including personnel reimbursements and a June transfer that made the governor’s fiscal year 2024 budget appear balanced. Administrator Wolf explained such interagency personnel reimbursements are a longstanding practice (often handled via "10P" transactions) and said the state’s controller has worked to replicate the reimbursements in the new LUMA accounting system so they can be tracked. Wolf offered to provide the committee detailed records showing those transactions, and LaHozet and other analysts agreed to assemble spreadsheets for committee review.

Other details: The governor’s office requested $45,000 one-time general-fund for ITS replacement items and noted a historical authorization for certain expenditures. Committee members asked for itemized lists for charter flights and travel and for details of how the emergency fund was spent; LaHozet said he would provide relevant expenditure reports and spreadsheets. Wolf emphasized the recommendation to replenish the emergency fund is intended to restore cash so the governor may use the fund when authorized by statute (citing requirements in Idaho code discussed during the presentation).

Ending: The governor’s enhancement requests and the recommended cash transfer to the emergency fund were presented for committee review. Analysts and DFM committed to supplying more detailed transaction-level records and the governor’s office said it will pursue more cost-effective constituent-services software options before expending the FY25 appropriation.