Office of Species Conservation requests $30,000 in miscellaneous revenue authority to pursue non‑federal grants after large IIJA awards

The Idaho Office of Species Conservation told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Oct. 24, 2025, that it continues to manage a mix of federal grants and trustee and benefit payments and asked for $30,000 in additional miscellaneous revenue authority to pursue grants from non‑federal partners.

Janet Jessup, the committee’s budget analyst, said the office is allocated 16 full‑time positions and that trustee and benefit payments accounted for the majority of 2024 expenditures from federal sources. Jessup said the office received a federal appropriation of $5 million in 2023 tied to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA); she noted that such federal funds often take multiple years to spend and agencies sometimes request appropriation reductions to “right‑size” budgets when grant timing shifts.

Why it matters: OSC administers planning and restoration work for species listed under federal law and implements habitat projects that often rely on federal and non‑federal partners. Appropriation ceilings for federal and miscellaneous funds are limited to the cash actually received, the analyst reminded members, so requested authority does not change spending unless cash is collected.

Key details and exchange with lawmakers

- Staffing and funding mix: Jessup said OSC has 16 FTP and expended nearly $1.5 million on personnel in 2025, and that trustee and benefit payments in the agency’s budget were nearly $8.24 million in the period discussed. The office’s only dedicated (non‑federal) fund is a miscellaneous revenue fund that accepts donations, settlements and non‑federal grants.

- IIJA federal grants: Jessup told the committee the office received an appropriation of about $5 million in 2023 tied to IIJA and that those federal funds appear as trustee and benefit payments in the budget. Because the funds are often one‑time federal awards, the office’s appropriation and reported expenditures can vary year to year as spending and grant timing play out.

- Miscellaneous revenue request: The office requested an additional $30,000 in miscellaneous revenue authority to allow it to accept and spend non‑federal grants and donations. The governor’s recommendation did not change that request.

Administrator Edmondson, who led the office’s presentation, thanked the committee for the addition of a fiscal specialist last year and said the new position improved the office’s ability to track incoming and outgoing funds. “We now have somebody for our income and our outgo,” Edmondson said.

Where the governor landed and next steps

Jessup said the governor’s recommendation matched the office’s requests. Committee members did not ask for additional materials at the hearing; OSC said it will continue coordinating grant tracking and reporting with the Legislative Services Office and with JFAC staff.