Fish and Game outlines one‑time projects, website overhaul and Valley Fire rehabilitation; explains license fund fluctuations

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game presented its FY26 budget priorities to the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Oct. 23, emphasizing that its operations are funded by dedicated license revenues and federal grants rather than the general fund, and outlining largely one‑time enhancement requests for capital, software and recovery work from wildfire.

Director Jim Fredericks said the agency requested $18,184,900 in enhancements for FY26, noting about 88% of that total consists of one‑time requests. The governor’s recommendation included the agency’s requested enhancements in full and adjusted benefit and compensation lines.

Why it matters: Fish and Game manages fish and wildlife resources statewide, operates 19 hatcheries and uses license and tag revenues that are often statutorily set aside for specific conservation or access purposes. Fluctuations in cash balances and federal grant billing can affect the timing of projects and the amount available for one‑time expenditures.

Major items and committee questions Fredericks and Chief of Administration John Oswald explained a dip in the Fish and Game fund balance between FY23 and FY24 was partly caused by delayed federal grant billing; billing was caught up in FY25 and FY26 balances reflect both that catch‑up and deliberate use of reserves for one‑time projects. Oswald said FY26 plans include using existing cash for projects such as a Salmon Region office remodel, a website overhaul and a Pocatello office remodel.

Website overhaul and IT requests The agency said it spent only a small portion of an initial $750,000 allocation for website redesign; phase 2 was presented as an FY26 enhancement. The agency now expects the total website redesign to cost roughly $1.3 million after benchmarking other states, and said it intends to move quickly to procure design services.

Valley Fire rehabilitation Fish and Game requested a fiscal 2025 supplemental for Valley Fire rehabilitation after a fall fire burned approximately 9,900 acres east of Boise, including part of the Boise River Wildlife Management Area. Fredericks said immediate rehabilitation costs are expected to be about $750,000 for seeding, aerial herbicide application and initial site stabilization; additional restoration work — such as sagebrush planting and infrastructure replacement — will create ongoing costs. The agency said it is in discussions with the utility company for possible voluntary contributions toward restoration.

License revenues and set‑asides Jessup and agency staff described how license and tag revenues fund agency operations and how some revenue is set aside by statute for specific uses. The committee heard that a portion of funds from certain anadromous fish permits must be used for acquisition, development and maintenance of fishing access and parking sites.

Other FY26 requests Fish and Game listed several other requests: ArcGIS software licenses ($140,000), remote connectivity for hatcheries and management sites (about $65,000 for multiple locations, per the agency’s ITS‑spec solution), support for seasonal employees tied to Bonneville mitigation stewardship, and $679,900 to align appropriation with expected federal grants. Fredericks said the agency hires seasonals and maintains 19 hatcheries whose utility and maintenance costs drive operating expenditures.

Process notes Oswald told the committee that a FY24 dip in the Fish and Game fund was attributable in part to federal grant billing timing and deliberate one‑time spending plans for FY26. The agency asked the committee to consider phase 2 of the website overhaul and other one‑time projects in the governor’s recommended budget.

Ending Fredericks thanked the committee and said the department aims to maintain healthy and abundant fish and wildlife populations for Idaho residents.