JFAC adopts FY2025 revenue number; FY2026 forecast unresolved as split votes leave committee without dual‑house majorities

Idaho’s Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Friday adopted a $5,990,000,000 general‑fund revenue projection for fiscal year 2025 based on the Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee recommendation, but it failed to set a revenue number for fiscal 2026 after a sequence of split votes.

Division Manager Keith Bybee of the Budget Policy Analysis Division outlined the revenue options and statewide decisions. For FY2025 he said the Economic Outlook committee recommended $5,999,000,000 and committee motioning settled on $5,990,000,000 for setting agency budgets. Senator Woodward moved adoption of that recommendation and the motion passed with a unanimous roll call: 10‑0 in the Senate and 10‑0 in the House, a 20‑0 final tally.

The FY2026 debate produced multiple proposals. The Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee had recommended a $6,400,000,000 projection; the governor’s recommended figure (used for his budget baseline) was lower (the governor’s office’s working number was presented in the packet at about $6,261,000,000 and included an $330,000,000 school funding adjustment). Representative Petsky moved to adopt the committee’s $6.4 billion figure. Senator Woodward offered a substitute at $6,330,000,000.

The substitute motion failed on the floor. The committee reported a combined total of 8 ayes and 12 nays (senate split and house opposing) and the substitute did not achieve the dual‑house majority required by JFAC rules. The original motion to adopt $6.4 billion subsequently failed as well; the final tally was 4 senate yes / 6 senate no, and 10 house yes / 0 house no for a 14‑yes, 6‑no combined total — again, not a majority in each chamber. Committee leadership said the FY2026 revenue decision will be postponed to a later meeting.

Separately, the committee approved two other statewide budget decisions with unanimous support. A motion to adopt ongoing contract inflation adjustments (examples include contractually scheduled increases to lease or service rates) — totaling $3,356,400 across general, dedicated and federal funds — passed on a 20‑0 roll call. The committee also approved adjustments to statewide cost allocations (changes to billings and internal statewide fees including Attorney General billing, risk management, and state controller charges) for a total net request of $5,540,500; that motion also passed 20‑0.

Committee leaders repeatedly emphasized the JFAC practice adopted two years ago that any item sent from JFAC to the floor should carry a majority from both the Senate and the House. Chair Groh explained the rule aims to strengthen floor success by ensuring bipartisan and bicameral support at the finance committee stage.

Votes at a glance: - Revenue, FY2025: Motion to adopt EORAC recommended general‑fund revenue projection $5,990,000,000 — mover: Sen. Woodward; second: Co‑Chair Horman; vote: Senate 10‑0, House 10‑0, total 20‑0 — outcome: approved. - Revenue, FY2026: Multiple motions (EORAC $6,400,000,000; substitute $6,330,000,000). Substitute (Sen. Woodward) failed (combined 8 yes / 12 no). Original (Rep. Petsky) failed to secure a majority in both houses (combined 14 yes / 6 no) — outcome: postponed. - Contract inflation (ongoing contract rate increases): Mover Rep. Miller; second Sen. Woodward; vote: 20‑0 — outcome: approved; total requested $3,356,400. - Statewide cost allocation adjustments (Attorney General, state controller, risk management, OITS): Mover Co‑Chair Horman; second Sen. Woodward; vote: 20‑0 — outcome: approved; total net change $5,540,500.

The committee recessed before several larger compensation and benefit debates and will return to the remaining statewide decisions at a later meeting, per leadership.