Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
JFAC backs $644,400 in enhancements for Idaho State Liquor Division
Summary
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee approved $644,400 in dedicated‑fund enhancements for the Idaho State Liquor Division for FY2026, including pay increases for part‑time retail staff, shrink‑wrap freight costs and IT/hardware replacements.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee voted to add $644,400 in dedicated funds for the Idaho State Liquor Division for fiscal year 2026, approving a package of personnel, operational and IT enhancements.
The enhancements adopted include a $57,400 ongoing pay increase to raise part‑time retail staff hourly pay from $15 to $15.45; $72,000 ongoing to cover new freight contract requirements for shrink‑wrap; $75,000 (one time) for accessibility upgrades to the agency website; and $235,000 for information‑technology hardware and security replacements. The motion also included replacement and retail‑store maintenance items and vehicle replacements that the analyst described as part of the division’s request.
Kellen McGurkin, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee that the liquor division ‘‘annually accrues revenues from its sales, pays its own cost to operate and then distributes profits from those sales back to the state’’ and that FY2024 distributions totaled $118,300,000. He noted the agency requested both ongoing and one‑time amounts across several categories, and that retail positions experience ‘‘annual turnover in these positions at around 80%.’’
Senator Carlson moved the funding package and Representative Tanner seconded. During discussion Senator Wintrow cautioned that, because liquor operations run on dedicated funds, the committee should be ‘‘cautious with budgets that are dedicated funds’’ but added she intended to support the motion. Senator Ziderfeld said on the record that he preferred private‑sector control of liquor operations and suggested the policy merits future review.
Roll call produced a committee outcome of 15 ayes, 4 nays, 1 absent/excused across the two chambers (Senate 7‑2‑1; House 8‑2‑0). The chair ordered the motion to carry a due‑pass recommendation to the floor.
The committee did not attach new statutory directives to the funding; the package funds the agency’s requested operational, replacement and accessibility items for FY2026.
