State Independent Living Council tells JFAC it spends nearly all federal fund revenue; governor proposes small shift to general fund

The Idaho State Independent Living Council told the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Jan. 15 that it typically spends almost all of the federal grant revenue that flows into its dedicated fund and maintains an ending fund balance of about $280,000.

Kellen McGurkin, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee SILC has four full‑time positions and that personnel costs typically account for roughly 69% of the council’s expenditures. McGurkin said year‑to‑year differences between appropriation and cash receipts are usually due to timing differences between federal grant periods and the state fiscal year, which can make it look as if the council “spent more than it received” in a single fiscal year even when that is not the case.

McGurkin noted SILC’s dedicated fund receives federal independent living service grants passed through from the Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and that the council generally spends close to the fund’s available revenue; he said the fund’s ending balance historically has hovered near $280,000, about six and a half months of expenses, in case federal funding were to stop.

Mel Levitan, executive director of the Idaho State Independent Living Council, told the committee the agency travels statewide to provide training and advocacy and that the small staff has been stable since 2020. Levitan thanked the committee for a $10,000 line‑item increase last year that paid for external audits, which he said were completed without findings.

On the budget request for FY 2026, McGurkin said the governor’s recommendation would shift $11,700 of appropriation from SILC’s dedicated fund to the general fund. That change would increase the general fund share of statewide benefit and salary maintenance adjustments that would otherwise fall partly to SILC’s dedicated fund. McGurkin stood for questions and took no further action during the hearing.

No formal motion or vote on the request was recorded during the Jan. 15 hearing.

The council’s description to the committee identified its statutory establishment in Title 56, Chapter 12 of the Idaho Code and said the agency’s mission is to promote independent living and full integration of Idahoans with disabilities by supporting advocacy, training, policy development and analysis.

Committee members did not take immediate action at the hearing; next steps and any changes to appropriation will be set during later budget votes.