Idaho Parks and Recreation requests program consolidation, seasonal pay increases and capital projects funding

The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation asked the Joint Finance Corporation Committee on Wednesday to approve a set of budget changes that would merge two internal programs, raise seasonal wages and fund several capital projects including marina replacements at Heyburn State Park.

Janet Jessup, a budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, told the committee the department administers Idaho’s 30 state parks and trail systems and is currently allocated 190.8 full‑time positions. She said the agency’s budget mixes general, dedicated and federal funds and that many funds are legally restricted to specific uses, such as boat registration and snowmobile stickers.

“Those funds are statutorily prescribed to which purposes they can be used for,” Jessup said, describing how program‑specific revenues must be spent on their designated activities. She also showed the committee five‑year trends that reflect large one‑time appropriations in 2023 for deferred maintenance and a subsequent multi‑year…