JFAC approves $8.1 million package and 5 FTE for Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) voted to recommend supplemental funding for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, approving $5,410,700 from dedicated funds and $2,725,000 from federal funds — a total of $8,135,700 — and five full‑time equivalent positions for fiscal year 2026.

Janet Jessup, budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, described the agency and its responsibilities. "The department of parks and recreation is a state agency and it oversees the management of Idaho's 30 state parks and trails throughout 6 different regions in the state," Jessup said.

The motion, made by Senator Hart and seconded by Representative Manwaring, included line items that the motion text listed as: $321,100 for park personnel; $210,000 for seasonal group positions; $195,000 for statewide operating costs; $309,100 to increase pay for targeted positions; $140,000 for an OHV use campaign; $4,000,000 for improvements at Bear Lake State Park; $400,000 for improvements at Lake Cascade; a transfer of $23,035,600 from the management services program to the park operations program to consolidate programs; $2,263,000 for replacement items; and $197,500 for OITS hardware. The motion also added five full‑time equivalent positions.

Representative Furness asked about a reduction in replacement items; a member of the work group explained the committee reduced that line because the agency had retained funds that could be used for some replacement items in a future year.

On the floor vote, JFAC reported a final tally of 17 ayes and 3 nays; the committee stated, "the majority having voted in the affirmative, this will go forward with a do‑pass recommendation." Following the vote, committee staff displayed language on the screen to permit transfers of consolidated funds from the parks operations program to the capital development program for grants; Senator Hart requested unanimous consent to accept that language, and the committee recorded no objections.

The JFAC action is a committee recommendation: it moves the package forward with a do‑pass recommendation to the next step in the appropriation process. The language adopted allows the consolidated parks operations funds to be transferred for grants to the agency's capital development program.