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Historical Society outlines archive consolidation, Old Idaho Penitentiary staffing and America250 plans to JFAC
Summary
The Idaho State Historical Society told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee it needs legislative spending authority for grants and donations, requested one‑time moves and staffing funds to consolidate collections and expand educational programming at the Old Idaho Penitentiary, and briefed lawmakers on the America250 commemoration portfolio.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee heard the Idaho State Historical Society explain FY26 funding requests and exhibit materials, and members viewed artifacts returned from U.S. Navy vessels named USS Idaho.
Analyst Brooke Dupree summarized the society’s structure and recent fund activity referencing chapter 41, title 67 of Idaho Code, which defines the agency’s responsibilities. The historical society described fluctuating balances in its records‑management revenue fund because of timing differences between when it collects fees for records services and when other agencies pay, and the society requested spending authority to expend donated and grant funds the agency currently holds.
Director Janet Gallimore introduced staff and the society’s board chair and said the society raises roughly half of its budget from non‑state sources (earned revenue, grants, contracts and donations) and that legislative appropriation and spending authority are distinct: large federal or foundation grants often require legislative spending authority before the society can disburse the funds. The agency described a prior fundraising initiative and ongoing campaigns (including a $2 million campaign for the Old Idaho Penitentiary and other project‑specific fundraising) and said typical annual earned revenue for education programs is about $250,000.
Specific FY26 requests and program details discussed by the society included: ongoing and one‑time staffing for the Old Idaho Penitentiary (several education and revenue‑focused positions, with the agency saying the Old Pen relies heavily on earned income and the positions aim to double student programming from about 6,000 to 12,000), a $450,000 one‑time request in FY26 for moving and consolidation costs to centralize collections (the agency expects the multi‑year consolidation to take roughly 10 months of active moving when implemented across fiscal years), and an archivist/technician position to digitize and catalog archival material to improve public access.
The society also described a $1,650,000 general‑fund appropriation for America250 commemoration activities (the governor recommended the appropriation). Director Gallimore said about $1.4 million of that amount is already obligated to projects, including curriculum work at Boise State, a public television documentary partnership, and grants administered through the society; she said the agency is working with an advisory council and the governor’s task force on implementation and that some funds may be repurposed to support the advisory council’s work.
As part of the hearing the society presented two historic silver service pieces associated with ships named USS Idaho; Gallimore described the society’s partnership work to curate items that will travel with the current USS Idaho (SSN‑799) and to plan for their eventual return and curation in Idaho collections.
Committee members asked for more data on the Old Pen positions (performance measures and early results for recently filled positions), more precise fundraising results for prior campaigns, and details on the proposed consolidation schedule and cost estimates. The society committed to provide budget‑period fund balances and performance updates and emphasized that spending authority is required to accept and expend large federal and foundation grants.
