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Legislative Services Office introduces impact review team and new budget analysts to JFAC
Summary
LSO and DFM staff introduced new and returning budget analysts and a new impact review team — researchers and fellows who will support evidence and evaluation work during the session — and outlined analyst assignments to help members dig into agency budgets.
The Legislative Services Office and Division of Financial Management introduced staff and a newly formed impact review team to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Jan. 8, explaining roles and analyst assignments as JFAC prepares to review agency budgets.
Paul Headley, deputy chief at the Legislative Services Office, described a new impact review team that will support research, evidence and evaluation products for the committee. ‘‘As I've looked at performance measures, performance budgeting … there's one theme that continues to rise to the top and that's evidence,’’ Headley said while introducing the new analysts and fellows assigned to the impact review effort.
Who was introduced - Budget and policy team: Keith Bybee (Division Manager), Jared Tetreault (Deputy Manager), Shane Winslow (data systems coordinator), Janet Jessup (principal analyst, natural resources and appropriations bill coordinator), Frances Lippitt (capital budgets and CEC), Alex Williamson (health and welfare analyst), Brooke Dupree (Idaho Transportation, Commerce, Labor), Tamara Figueredo (office coordinator), and new analysts Kevin Campbell (secondary education), Noah Peterson (public safety), Kellen McGurkin (general government) and Chris Lahoset (statewide elected officials and defender offices). - Impact review team: Paul Headley said the team includes Casey Hartwig (law degree, assigned to public schools, higher ed and natural resources), Alex Penny (audit/evaluation background, assigned to health and human services, general government and capital budgets) and Alex Hatfield (IT/GIS support, transportation and public safety). Headley also introduced two fellows placed through a university partnership — Ellen Upton and Kalyn (last name not specified in the presentation) — who will support research projects and mapping.
Why it matters: Staff emphasized the capacity boost the new team provides for evidence‑based review. Headley told members the team can deliver products ranging from brief email responses to two‑page summaries or deeper policy research and can help identify evidence of program effectiveness and comparable outcomes from other jurisdictions.
Committee guidance and next steps Chairs encouraged members to contact analysts assigned to their work groups and to use the staff expertise during upcoming work‑group sessions. Bybee and Headley urged members to rely on analysts to gather background documentation, identify data sources, and support legislators’ questions as the committee begins program‑maintenance and enhancement deliberations.
Ending Members were invited to meet analysts assigned to their areas and to schedule one‑on‑one time for help; staff said they will support work groups and provide research requested by members during the session.
