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Committee briefed on deficiency warrants and supplementals, with rising use for pest control and other emergencies
Summary
Analysts outlined how deficiency warrants allow certain agencies to spend against the general fund for urgent needs and detailed the governor’s supplemental recommendations and historical trends showing growth in deficiency warrant use, notably for pest control.
Kellen McGurkin, budget and policy analyst at the Legislative Services Office, spoke to the Joint Finance and Appropriation Committee on Jan. 7 about deficiency warrants, supplementals and rescissions — the mechanisms that adjust current‑year appropriations.
McGurkin explained deficiency warrants permit certain statutory exceptions that allow agencies to spend against the general fund for prescribed purposes without a prior appropriation; the agency later comes to JFAC to obtain an appropriation that zeroes out the outstanding balance. Typical authorized uses include dam safety work, fire suppression and pest control. Boards such as the Board of Examiners or the Board of Land Commissioners typically authorize the initial spending.
He showed that the dollar value of deficiency‑warrant requests has increased over a recent five‑year window, with much of that growth driven by pest‑control expenditures. McGurkin said the governor’s supplemental recommendation for the current session totals $604.8 million across all funds, including $98.8 million from the general fund; that figure includes a proposed $60 million transfer to the fire deficiency fund that is part of the governor’s package.
Supplementals differ from deficiency warrants because supplementals act like ordinary appropriations but apply to the current fiscal year; rescissions would reduce current‑year appropriations (none were proposed at the time of the briefing). McGurkin reminded members that the Idaho Constitution requires an emergency clause for laws taking effect immediately; JFAC must decide whether requests need emergency language or can wait until the fiscal year end.
Committee members asked about genuine building emergencies (for example, an active leak requiring immediate repair). McGurkin said the statutory emergency process and purchasing rules still apply and that agencies and the Division of Purchasing must work through contracting and bid considerations even when the committee declares an emergency preamble for a bill.
Ending: McGurkin told members detailed lists of supplemental and deficiency requests by agency are included in the legislative budget materials and that agency budget hearings in the coming weeks will provide additional context for each request.
