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JFAC advances LUMA costs to state budget and approves administration and building-fund projects
Summary
The joint committee approved budget requests moving LUMA-related costs onto the state controller's annual budget, adopted several Department of Administration enhancements, and approved multiple permanent building fund projects including university and public-safety facilities.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 12 approved several agency budget enhancements beyond public health, moving previously continuously appropriated LUMA costs into the State Controller's FY2026 budget and approving operating and capital requests for Administration and the Permanent Building Fund.
State Controller: Legislative staff explained the LUMA enterprise business system had been operated from a continuously appropriated account that expires at the end of the current fiscal year. The committee approved a motion to add personnel and operating funding for the LUMA footprint in the state controller's budget: 7 FTE (LUMA personnel) and requested operating charges and billing transfers for the computer service center. The overall motion moved roughly $15.2 million total with 10 additional FTE and included a reallocation of leadership effort and a transparency communications manager. Representative Petzke moved the package, which passed with a combined committee vote of 15 ayes, 3 nays, 2 absent/excused.
Department of Administration and Permanent Building Fund: The committee approved enhancements for the Department of Administration including staffing for group insurance and risk management to handle growth in the state plan, a trailer for Division of Security, and a governor's housing stipend funded from the permanent building fund. The motion totaled roughly $460,200 in dedicated funds and added three FTE; the motion passed with a house-senate combined majority and will carry a due-pass recommendation.
The committee also approved multiple Permanent Building Fund projects totaling $122,861,900 one-time from dedicated funds. The packet and motion listed projects including an expansion of the Department of Lands Ponderosa supervisory office, utility connections for a planned Army National Guard Readiness Center in Bonneville County, additional funding for Idaho State Police District 2, lab funding at Boise State University's Micron Center for Materials Research, a life sciences complex at Idaho State University, and a joint military science and veterans assistance center at the University of Idaho. The motion passed with a combined committee tally reported as 15 ayes, 3 nays, 2 absent/excused.
Committee members and analysts emphasized that many LUMA costs were existing spending and that the action brings greater transparency by budgeting those ongoing charges rather than keeping them in continuously appropriated accounts. For the permanent building fund, staff reiterated the fund's statutory role, and the motion included standard language requiring the Public Works division and advisory council to report on project status and prioritize funds when projects have not started within defined timeframes.
Language tied to the controller's and administration budgets was approved by roll call where required; the committee adopted standard appropriation restrictions, indirect cost transfers and other technical language included in the packet.
