Idaho State Historical Society seeks spending authority for Old Pen, archives move and America250 commemoration

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard the Idaho State Historical Society’s FY26 budget presentation, which included requests for staffing and one‑time authority to move collections, ongoing positions tied to the Old Idaho Penitentiary, and reappropriation authority for America250 commemoration activities.

The Historical Society described a multi-year plan to consolidate several off‑site storage facilities into the State Archives building, to improve preservation and public access, and to expand education and earned-income opportunities at the Old Idaho Penitentiary.

Why it matters: the society manages state archives, museum collections and historic sites. The agency said spending authority is required not only to accept and expend grants but also to carry out capital moves and exhibitions that protect and interpret Idaho’s historical collections.

What the agency requested and described • Staffing and Old Pen operations: the agency requested ongoing positions and one‑time capital outlay for Old Idaho Penitentiary staff and operations. Director Janet Gallimore said the positions support education and revenue generation at the site; the Old Pen relies heavily on earned revenue and the society’s business plan aims to grow student visits (from a stated target of 6,000 to 12,000 students) and increase earned income.

• Archives consolidation and moving costs: the society requested a $450,000 one‑time appropriation (part of a two‑year effort) to pay for moving about 30,000 boxes of records and roughly 50,000 artifacts from off‑site facilities into a single, climate‑controlled archives building. Agency staff said the work will be staged and will take approximately ten months once it begins, and that the move improves preservation and operational efficiency.

• America250 commemoration: the FY25 appropriation included $1,650,000 in general fund support for America250 activities; the director said roughly $1.4 million of that amount is obligated through contracts, memoranda of understanding and interagency work but not all dollars have been expended. The society listed planned projects that include partnerships with Boise State, Idaho Public Television and grants to local organizations.

• Fundraising and spending authority: Gallimore explained that the society’s budget is financed roughly half by general fund and half by nonstate revenue (earned revenue, grants, donations, contracts). She emphasized that, while the foundation can raise private funds, the society still needs legislative spending authority to accept and expend major grants and to comply with government accounting and audit requirements.

Follow-up and public access The society offered to provide more detailed fundraising tallies, data on Old Pen program outcomes and specifics about revenues and student-visit goals. The committee and agency also arranged follow-up discussions on the State Historic Preservation Office’s role in federal permitting.

The committee concluded the session with an in-room exhibit of two historic silver service pieces tied to ships named USS Idaho, which the society described as part of a long-term plan to curate artifacts carried on vessels and to ensure their return and preservation in Idaho collections.