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JFAC approves OITS supplemental and $11.13 million in FY2026 IT enhancements, adds 22 positions
Summary
The committee approved a FY2025 one‑time supplemental for office equipment and adopted a larger FY2026 package for the Office of Information Technology Services, including hardware, infrastructure, ServiceNow, and 22 FTE tied to consolidation work.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee approved a one‑time FY2025 supplemental for the Office of Information Technology Services (OITS) to purchase temporary office equipment and then adopted the agency’s FY2026 enhancement package that funds major IT replacement items, infrastructure projects and 22 new full‑time equivalents associated with consolidation of IT staff from other agencies.
Budget analyst Christopher LaHozat told the committee OITS coordinates statewide IT policy, telecommunications and cyber security. The committee first approved an $81,700 one‑time supplemental from the general fund to buy cubicles, chairs and temporary spaces for staff beginning work under the consolidation.
For FY2026 the committee approved the agency’s original request rather than the governor’s alternate funding mechanism. The adopted package provides office relocation funding, enterprise security hardware and software to improve backup and anti‑ransomware capabilities, emergency connectivity network equipment, IT infrastructure work including F5 consolidation and phone system conversions, a ServiceNow project management tool, and $1.335 million in OITS hardware replacement items. The motion also added 22 FTP tied to modernization and consolidation of Idaho State Police and Department of Juvenile Corrections IT staff.
Representative Petzke moved the enhancements and Senator Cook seconded. The committee recorded a combined total of 14 ayes, 5 nays and 1 absent/excused (Senate 6‑3‑1; House 8‑2‑0). The motion will carry a due‑pass recommendation. Analysts were also directed to prepare a cost‑efficiency report with recommendations for OITS and Division of Financial Management to submit to JFAC and LSO by Dec. 1.
The committee said it is returning to the agency request after a proposed new Cybersecurity and IT Resilience Fund did not secure funding movement in related processes and to allow the projects to proceed under the current appropriation path this year.
