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Committee reviews library budget requests, discusses federal "Digital Access for All Idahoans" grant and summer reading supports
Summary
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee reviewed the Idaho Commission for Libraries' FY26 requests, including ongoing spending authority tied to a federal Digital Access for All Idahoans grant, broadband reimbursement under the Education Opportunity Resource Act, and questions about summer reading materials and program distribution.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee heard an overview of the Idaho Commission for Libraries’ budget and asked the agency to provide more detail on how federal broadband and digital‑access funds will be spent.
Budget analyst Brooke Dupree told the committee the commission supports 850 Idaho libraries and that recent spikes in receipts reflect federal pandemic and ARPA funding, including ESSER and an ARPA Capital Projects Fund award. Dupree said the agency is requesting an ongoing increase of $2,500,000 tied to the Digital Access for All Idahoans grant and a $42,400 ongoing broadband reimbursement under the Education Opportunity Resource Act (chapter 56 of title 33, Idaho Code). She said the commission anticipates more libraries will qualify for reimbursement than current base funding covers.
Committee members pressed the agency about the Digital Access for All Idahoans grant and how the funds…
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