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JFAC endorses State Board of Education special programs budget, funds rural educator incentives
Summary
The committee approved a package of special-program enhancements for the State Board of Education, including funding for a rural and underserved educator incentive program and small staffing and IT items across research and museum programs.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved the State Board of Education's special-programs FY2026 requests on Feb. 14, including ongoing funding targeted at workforce and rural educator incentives.
Kevin Campbell, budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, outlined the requested items within special programs such as forest utilization research, the Idaho Geological Survey, the Idaho Museum of Natural History, scholarships and grants, the Idaho Small Business Development Center and TechHelp. Highlights included a request of $1,375,000 ongoing for the rural and underserved educator incentive program, small position additions for forest utilization research and a database manager for the geologic survey and small requests for the Idaho Mobile Museum and other program corrections. The governor recommended the items.
Senator Carlson moved the package, which added roughly $1.4141 million from the general fund and 0.27 FTE; Representative Price seconded. The motion passed on recorded votes with a Senate tally of 8 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent and excused and unanimous House support for a combined tally of 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent excused. The committee accepted the governor's recommendations and will carry a due-pass recommendation.
Representative Petzke commented on structural issues in how small program requests are presented and asked staff to review budget structure to improve transparency and evaluation of small line items going forward. Committee staff indicated a summer project to examine budget structure.
