JFAC approves broad Idaho Transportation Department package, greenlights large transfers and project-specific language

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved a package of budget motions affecting the Idaho Transportation Department that together provide reappropriation authority, supplemental spending for local transit and construction projects, and policy language directing where some funding must be used.

The committee approved supplemental and FY2026 motions that together add dedicated and federal spending authority for capital facilities, aeronautics, the Division of Motor Vehicles, highway operations and contract construction and right‑of‑way acquisition. The package included one large general‑fund transfer into ITD dedicated accounts and language specifying that certain sums be used for particular road‑widening projects.

Why it matters: The actions set how millions in federal, state‑dedicated and one‑time general fund dollars may be spent on airports, local transit reimbursements and a range of road and facility projects. The committee also took a step that several members said marks the final year of a multi‑year shift of a highway distribution payment from the highway fund to the general fund in the Idaho State Police budget (discussed elsewhere). Debates during the session highlighted concern about long‑term maintenance funding levels and whether transfers from the general fund should be repeated in future years.

Key votes and allocations

- The committee approved in separate votes a reappropriation package in the Capital Facilities and Aeronautics programs totaling tens of millions of dollars for deferred maintenance, airport grants and IT hardware; the final approval recorded a due‑pass recommendation after committee roll calls.

- The committee approved a supplemental of $5,000,000 from the State Highway Federal Fund to reimburse local public transit jurisdictions for eligible federal reimbursements; the motion passed unanimously in both chambers on the committee roll call.

- A separate $500,000 one‑time federal supplemental to reimburse metropolitan planning organizations passed unanimously.

- For the Highway Operations Division the committee approved enhancement requests including targeted compensation (a CEC for workers), new equipment (heavy machinery and a snowplow among items discussed), an automated materials software module, funding for public transit, and a $700,000 federal highway safety grant. The combined motion—$71,371,600 from dedicated funds and $13,592,000 from federal funds—passed on the committee roll call (total recorded as 13 ayes, 7 nays across both committees).

- For Contract Construction and Right‑of‑Way Acquisition, the committee approved additional authority including federal and dedicated funds and reappropriation authority not to exceed $300,000,000; a subsequent motion transferred large general‑fund amounts into dedicated funds for strategic initiatives and local highway distribution. A motion to transfer $275,000,000 from the general fund (of which $165,000,000 would go to the Strategic Initiatives Program Dedicated Fund and $110,000,000 to the Local Highway Distribution Fund) passed on committee roll calls after an alternate motion for $150,000,000 failed.

Policy and language changes

- The committee adopted language requiring ITD to confirm that local airports are not in violation of the federal policy on non‑aeronautical use of airport hangars before those airports can receive ITD grants.

- Two pieces of intent language were adopted directing that at least $13,200,000 be used for a road‑widening project on a town‑center arterial with 20,000 or more average daily traffic and that at least $50,000,000 be used for a residential mobility arterial connecting a state highway to a U.S. highway (members said the latter is intended to prioritize projects such as improvements on Linder Road in the Boise area).

Debate highlights and context

Committee members debated the size and source of the transfers. Senator Hart said a substitute motion to transfer less money was intended to buy time to study the ITD budget and add staff capacity at the Legislature for oversight; that substitute failed. Senator Ward Engelking said he was concerned maintenance funding is being reduced compared with prior recommendations and worried about potential safety impacts as bridges and major corridors have experienced closures.

Members also questioned the efficacy of highway safety advertising and the role of targeted pay adjustments for ITD employees. Several speakers described the equipment purchases as heavy vehicles and snowplows that are typical drivers of the “replacement items” line.

What the committee directed next

Committee members said the transfer to the Strategic Initiatives Program Dedicated Fund will trigger the program’s continuous appropriation status under Idaho law. The committee also indicated this year’s shift of certain costs (for Idaho State Police) from the highway account to the general fund is expected to be the last iteration of that particular fund shift.

Speakers quoted

Budget analyst Brooke Dupree summarized ITD’s requests and reappropriation items. Senator Hart, who offered the substitute motion and later restated motions verbatim for the record, said he intended follow‑up legislative work to examine the ITD budget in more detail.

Ending note

The transportation package moves substantial authority and spending guidance to ITD for the coming year; committee members said they expect continued monitoring and possible follow‑up legislation to clarify long‑term funding strategies and oversight of large transfers.