Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governors Office topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Governor’s office seeks $1.35 million to restore emergency fund and explores constituent‑service software
Summary
Analysts told JFAC the governor’s emergency fund balance has fallen below its $2 million base and the executive office recommended a $1.35 million cash transfer; the office is also developing a constituent services platform after rejecting a Salesforce subscription as cost‑prohibitive.
The Executive Office of the Governor presented its budget to the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Feb. 18 and recommended restoring the governor’s emergency fund cash balance to its base appropriation and pursuing a new constituent‑services platform.
Christopher LaHozet, budget and policy analyst for the legislative services office, outlined that the governor’s emergency fund has a base appropriation of $2 million but a cash balance near $650,000 after prior expenditures. LaHozet said the governor proposes a one‑time cash transfer of $1,350,000 from the general fund to restore the emergency fund cash balance to $2 million.
LaHozet also described a $250,000 one‑time request to implement objectives of a federal White House task force referenced in the executive order cited by the agency, and a $45,000 one‑time request for ITS replacement items. The analyst said the White House task force funding would support Idaho’s participation in national activities tied to the 250th anniversary observances outlined by the federal executive order.
Committee members asked detailed questions about a previously authorized constituent‑service platform listed as “Salesforce” in budget documents. LaHozet said the office had looked at Salesforce but found it cost‑prohibitive and that the appropriation for a constituent services management system had not yet been spent. Division of Financial Management Administrator Lori Wolf told the committee the governor’s office has not expended the appropriation and is exploring lower‑cost options and potential leveragable solutions within state systems and ITS.
Members also raised questions about in‑state charter flights and transfers where other agencies reimbursed the governor’s office for personnel costs (so‑called “10P” personnel transfers). LaHozet and Wolf agreed to provide the committee with more detailed spreadsheets and transaction listings. Wolf described long‑standing practice across state government of reimbursing personnel costs when staff perform work for other agencies and said the process was replicated in the new LUMA accounting system.
On the emergency fund, Wolf told the committee the fund has been used in recent years for items including reimbursements related to the University of Idaho Moscow murder investigation and the Esto Perpetua (Fight Fentanyl) program. The governor’s proposal to transfer $1.35 million would replenish the cash balance to its statutory base and was presented as part of the FY2026 enhancement package.
LaHozet and Wolf agreed to provide follow‑up: detailed spending reports on emergency‑fund transactions, an itemized ITS hardware list for the $45,000 request, and transaction spreadsheets requested by committee members about transfers and charter flight expenditures. The governor’s office and DFM staff said they will supply those details to the committee.
