JFAC approves $30 million ongoing for water projects and related transfer language

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 14 approved a $30,000,000 ongoing appropriation to support water infrastructure projects across Idaho and adopted transfer and reappropriation language for those funds.

Analyst Janet Jessup told the committee the governor's proposal would show $30,000,000 ongoing in the Water Resources budget and that, if adopted, the motion would include transfer language moving $30,000,000 from the General Fund to the Water Management Fund, a continuously appropriated account the Board of Water Resources uses for projects and grants to local water entities. “The water management fund is a continuously appropriated account within the Department of Water Resources,” Jessup said.

The committee also adopted language that grants reappropriation authority for ARPA and State Fiscal Recovery funds to ensure the agency can use those funds as project bills come due. The committee approved additional language concerning filing fees for adjudication and other standard conditions, limitations and restrictions accompanying the bill.

Representative Clark Manwaring moved the motion. The committee recorded a combined vote of 15 ayes, 5 nays; the motion passed and will carry a due-pass recommendation. The committee later adopted the exact bill language and condition language by recorded vote (18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent), and approved a separate intent section directing use of the $30,000,000 to certain board districts for FY2026.

Committee members discussed that the appropriation is ongoing and would become part of the FY2027 base if continued. Jessup said the fund has been used for infrastructure projects and local grants.