JFAC moves $291.737 million into Idaho broadband office to improve tracking

The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Jan. 17 voted unanimously to move $291,737,000 in previously reappropriated funds into Idaho’s newly created broadband office so broadband grants and expenditures can be tracked independently from the Department of Commerce’s other programs.

Analysts explained the change was administrative: last session’s reappropriation predated the statutory transfer that created the broadband office, so reappropriated dollars landed in a Commerce program rather than the broadband office. Janet Jessup, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee the action "would remove the monies that were reappropriated to the commerce program, and then also add them back into the broadband office so they can be tracked for transparency moving forward."

Why it matters: The reclassification is a net-zero change to statewide totals but affects how grants and expenditures will appear in future budget reports and audits. Committee members were told the move will let the state track broadband grant activity separately and improve transparency for broadband spending drawn from reappropriated and federal funds.

How the committee voted: Two companion motions — one removing the reappropriation from the Commerce program and one adding the same amount to the broadband office — both passed on roll-call votes reported as 20 ayes, 0 nays.

Context and next steps: The committee’s action was described repeatedly as a bookkeeping and transparency correction rather than a policy choice. Staff said they will reflect the change in the appropriation bill that will be drafted after today’s session and return the bill for committee review before introduction to the Legislature.