Idaho Historical Society seeks spending authority for collections, Old Pen expansion and America250 projects

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee received a presentation Thursday from the Idaho State Historical Society on budget requests for fiscal year 2026, including staff for the Old Idaho Penitentiary, a plan to consolidate off‑site storage into the State Archives, and appropriations tied to the America250 commemoration.

Janet Gallimore, director of the Idaho State Historical Society, said the agency’s budget is funded roughly half by general fund and half by non‑state revenue, including earned revenue, grants and private donations. She and staff explained that when the society raises larger federal or private grants the legislature must authorize spending authority so those funds can be expended. "When we do go for federal grants or local grants, we have to be able to have the ability to spend them," Gallimore said.

The society requested two additional ongoing positions for the Old Idaho Penitentiary (funded from the site’s miscellaneous revenue) to increase educational programming and raise earned income; the agency said those positions flow from a business plan intended to expand student visits and revenue‑generating activities. Gallimore said the Old Pen operates largely on earned income and the business plan set goals to expand educational outreach (the agency cited a goal to increase student visits from 6,000 to 12,000).

The society also requested $450,000 one‑time for moving costs to consolidate collections held across three off‑site facilities into the State Archives; staff said an estimated 30,000 boxes of records and some 50,000 three‑dimensional artifacts would be relocated and the work is expected to cross two fiscal years. An archivist technician position ($62,900 ongoing) was requested to catalog and digitize materials so the public can locate items through online inventories.

On commemorations, the agency asked for $1,650,000 from the general fund for America250 activities, and Gallimore said roughly $1.4 million of that has been obligated toward projects including a public television documentary, academic and curricular work, and grants to partner organizations. Gallimore also presented two naval silver pieces tied to the USS Idaho as examples of artifacts the society curates and tracks for long‑term stewardship.

Committee members asked for follow‑up data about fundraising returns, the Old Pen business‑plan metrics and how quickly raised funds are authorized to be spent. Gallimore said the society would provide fund‑balance and fundraising details, and that the consolidation plan aims to improve preservation, security and public access by moving aging storage into the archives built to modern standards.

No formal vote was taken at the hearing; the governor recommended the requested enhancements.