Department of Lands defends fire budget as governor backs large transfers to suppression fund; timber protective associations and Good Neighbor Authority draw $

The Idaho Department of Lands told the Joint Finance/Appropriations Committee that wildfire response and preparedness remain the department’s top budget priorities and described how recent legislation and federal partnerships affect its funding. The governor’s budget recommended substantial transfers to bolster the state’s fire suppression deficiency fund and included firefighter bonuses for department employees; Timber Protective Associations (TPAs) and other partners asked for parity for their employees.

Legislative analyst Janet Jessup framed the Department of Lands budget and noted the agency operates several dedicated funds, including a continuously appropriated Fire Suppression Deficiency Warrant Fund that the legislature has prefunded in recent years. Jessup said the fund historically receives transfers and that in 2015 the legislature began pre‑funding the account in anticipation of suppression costs.

Director Dustin Miller described the department’s fire workload, recovery and reimbursement dynamics with federal partners, and detailed the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) program that allows Idaho to…