Idaho Department of Labor seeks $7.33 million in dedicated authority to sustain unemployment operations as federal pandemic dollars decline

Summary

Director Janie Rivera told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee the Department needs additional dedicated‑fund spending authority after federal pandemic grants dropped; the agency also proposed a corrective cash transfer and outlined how the unemployment trust fund and tax mechanisms work.

The Idaho Department of Labor told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee that it needs additional spending authority from dedicated funds — not general funds — to sustain core unemployment‑insurance (UI) operations as federal pandemic grants decline.

Brooke Dupree, the Legislative Services Office analyst, reviewed the department’s consolidated fund analysis and said the agency requested $7,330,000 in ongoing spending authority for UI operations in FY26 and a cash transfer of $4,868,600 from the unemployment penalty and interest fund to the employment security fund to correct an overcounting error. Dupree said the governor recommends the enhancements.

Director Janie Rivera said the UI program is a federal‑state partnership that historically depends on variable federal administrative grants. During the pandemic the department hired roughly 100 staff to handle a surge in claims; as federal grant dollars have declined, the department needs…

Idaho Department of Labor seeks $7.33 million in dedicated authority to sustain unemployment operations as federal pandemic dollars decline

Summary

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