Idaho State Historical Society requests funds for archival move, staff and America250 commemorations

The Idaho State Historical Society described proposed staffing increases, one‑time moving costs to consolidate collections, and funding for America250 commemoration activities at the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee hearing.

Budget analyst Brooke Dupree reviewed the agency’s budget book entries and noted a history of mixed cash timing for records‑management fees that can create temporary negative balances; she summarized recent appropriations, including a prior $5 million one‑time infrastructure appropriation and a $1.65 million general‑fund appropriation for the America250 commemoration.

Director Janet Gallimore (identified in the transcript as Janet Gallimore) told the committee the agency’s FY26 requests include: (1) ongoing staff for the Old Idaho Penitentiary funded from the Old Pen miscellaneous revenue fund; (2) a 1.0 FTE archivist/technician to support digitization and public access (Dupree listed this request as $62,900 ongoing and 1 FTP); and (3) a $450,000 one‑time request in FY26 to cover costs of consolidating off‑site storage into the State Archives facility. Gallimore said the consolidation is intended to replace multiple aging, off‑site storage locations (built in the 1960s) with a single modern facility annex that will improve collections care, security and public access.

Committee members pressed on fundraising and spending authority. Sen. Ziderfeld asked how a previously authorized $1,000,000 fundraising appropriation had been used and what returns the initiative generated; Director Gallimore said the appropriation provided spending authority so the agency could accept and spend donations, grants and other non‑state funds for projects, citing a range of campaign and project activity (ongoing earned revenue, periodic multi‑year campaigns such as a $2.0 million old‑pen campaign and suffrage‑centennial projects). Gallimore explained the distinction between cash on hand and state spending authority for grants: the agency may hold private or federal funds but still needs legislative spending authority to accept and expend large grants that require audited accounting and reporting.

Gallimore described the Old Idaho Penitentiary business plan that drove staffing increases at that site; she said recent hires focused on education and revenue generation and that staff are working to grow student programming (a stated goal moving from 6,000 to 12,000 students) and earned income at the site. The committee asked Gallimore for follow‑up data showing early results from positions added last year and revenue/attendance metrics.

On America250, Gallimore and the analyst said the agency had obligated roughly $1.4 million of the $1.65 million appropriation through memoranda of understanding and grant commitments for curriculum development, a Boise State Institute of American Studies project, public television documentary work and grant programs. The agency said it is coordinating with an advisory council and the governor’s task force on commemoration activity and partner projects, and said additional advisory council guidance may affect grant details.

The Historical Society closed by presenting artifacts associated with ships named USS Idaho — including an engraved fruit tray and a silver service cake tray that had been carried aboard earlier vessels — and by stressing the long‑term stewardship role of the agency. Committee members were invited to view the artifacts after the hearing.

No formal committee vote occurred during the presentation; the committee requested follow‑up financial detail on fundraising results, early metrics on the Old Pen staff additions, and further documentation of obligations against the America250 appropriation.