Idaho libraries seek ongoing state authority to spend federal digital-access funds

BOISE — The Idaho Commission for Libraries asked the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Oct. 23 to approve ongoing spending authority for federal digital-access grants and other grant funding the agency plans to pass through to local libraries.

Brooke Dupree, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee the commission provides support to 850 libraries statewide and that the agency’s fiscal picture shows spikes in federal receipts tied to pandemic- and ARPA-era awards. The agency is requesting an ongoing appropriation of $2,500,000 to continue implementing its Digital Access for All Idahoans plan and asked that the committee allow reappropriation of ARPA capital-projects money for facility improvements.

Why it matters: Committee members said they want clearer plans and expenditure detail before treating federal grants as a permanent part of the state base. Several legislators expressed concern that once a federal program becomes familiar, there is pressure to continue funding it with state general funds when…