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Secretary of State seeks ongoing funding for voter guide and software subscriptions
Summary
Secretary of State Phil McGrane asked the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee for several ongoing and one‑time enhancements including an ongoing voter guide appropriation, software subscription funding, and a double‑fill deputy business director to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
Christopher Lahoset, budget and policy analyst for the Legislative Services Office, presented the Secretary of State’s FY26 enhancement requests. He said the office has 35.5 authorized full‑time positions (about half a vacancy at the date cited) and that a 2024 one‑time appropriation of $10 million for an elections system upgrade remains partly unspent and reappropriated into FY25.
The Secretary of State requested eight enhancement items for FY26, including ongoing funding of $400,000 for a voter guide mailed to Idaho households ($300,000 estimated for postage and $100,000 estimated for printing). Lahoset noted a typographical error in his budget book and clarified the mailing and printing split.
Other requests included one‑time funding to double‑fill the deputy business director position (to allow a year of overlapping training before retirement), ongoing funding for software subscriptions ($287,100) to support campaign finance and lobbyist reporting systems, $20,000 for IT training, ongoing funding for publication of the Idaho Blue Book and constitution, and a request to cover postage inflation. Lahoset also asked for one‑time IT equipment replacement funding.
Secretary Phil McGrane told the committee his office has handled more than 800,000 business filings in the last year and said the office returns more revenue to the general fund than it draws. On the voter guide he said there is strong public demand. “Voters overwhelmingly would like to see a voter guide,” McGrane said, noting the primary and general elections fall in different fiscal years, which is why the request is annual.
Committee members asked about a one‑time $26,000 fee to access a motor vehicle/driver‑license verification system; McGrane said the $26,000 covers a one‑time federal upgrade fee while the ongoing subscription remains modest. Lawmakers also asked about turnover and the risk of training staff who might leave; McGrane said his office has long‑tenured staff and the double‑fill approach is intended to ensure continuity. He outlined how the office used prior one‑time funding to roll out a campaign finance system, a lobbyist reporting system, and the Vote Idaho website, and said the agency is evaluating bids to replace the statewide election management system.
