Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Budget Health Human Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee reviews State Independent Living Council budget, governor proposes small fund shift to general fund
Summary
Legislative analysts told the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee that the Idaho State Independent Living Council spends nearly all federal dedicated revenues each year and that the governor proposes shifting $11,700 of appropriation from SILC's dedicated fund to the general fund to cover statewide personnel cost increases.
The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Jan. 15 heard a presentation on the Idaho State Independent Living Council's (SILC) budget and fund balances from Legislative Services Office analyst Kellen McGurkin.
McGurkin said SILC—authorized in Idaho Code, Title 56, Chapter 12—has four full-time positions, including Executive Director Mel Levitan, and supports the State Independent Living Council in advocating for independent living services for people with disabilities. The council's dedicated fund is primarily fed by federal independent-living grants the analyst said came through the Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
McGurkin told the committee SILC typically spends nearly all of its dedicated-fund revenue each year and normally maintains an ending balance near $280,000, roughly six and a half months of expenses. He noted small overruns in some years due to timing differences between federal grant periods and the state fiscal year — for example, SILC’s dedicated fund showed spending above the revenue recorded in FY 2022 by about $3,000 and in FY 2023 by about $13,000. He also said SILC’s Title I rehabilitation funding rose by about $30,000 in FY 2023, the first increase in about a decade.
As to the governor’s FY 2026 recommendation, McGurkin said it would shift $11,700 in appropriation from SILC’s dedicated fund to the general fund. The effect, he explained, would be to have the general fund absorb approximately half of statewide increases in health benefit and change‑in‑employee‑compensation costs that otherwise would reduce the agency’s dedicated fund balance.
Senator Cook asked whether SILC had “overspent” its dedicated fund; McGurkin clarified that the apparent overages are timing mismatches between federal grant receipts and state fiscal accounting rather than a structural deficit.
Director Mel Levitan, who spoke after the analyst, thanked the committee and credited SILC staff and a $10,000 legislative line item added the prior year that was used to resolve outstanding audits. Levitan said audits for FY 2022–24 were completed with no findings after the additional funding and thanked financial specialist Megan Bates and the staff for their continuity; he said SILC had no turnover since its last hire in 2020 and values in-person statewide travel to meet constituents.
No committee action or vote was taken at the hearing; the presentation was a part of this year's series of replacement/enhancement hearings.
