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JFAC moves LUMA-related State Controller requests onto the budget ledger, approves transparency language
Summary
The committee approved funding and language to bring the State Controller’s LUMA (enterprise financial system) costs onto the annual budget, adding positions and transferring charges into the general fund while adding a communications manager position.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted to add LUMA-related personnel and operating costs to the State Controller’s FY2026 budget and approved associated language on cost transfers and accounting corrections.
Frances Lippitt, budget and policy analyst, explained that LUMA project costs previously operated from a continuously appropriated account that expires at the end of the fiscal year; the enhancements before the committee move that work onto the standard budget. The package included personnel, operating costs for the computer service center, and positions for shared-services financial specialists. The committee noted that while the appropriation figures look large on paper, they represent existing spending previously paid from a continuously appropriated account rather than net new spending.
Representative Petzke moved the package; the motion added ten positions and roughly $15.24 million in general-fund support plus $5.19 million in dedicated funds (packet figures). The motion passed in committee votes (combined totals reported: 15 ayes, 3 nays, 2 absent excused) and carries a due-pass recommendation.
The committee also approved language directing transfers of indirect cost recovery revenue to the general fund and authorizing an accounting correction for the Division of Veterans Services as a result of an erroneous FY2024 billing.
Proponents said bringing LUMA costs into the budget increases transparency about state accounting and avoids off-budget continuous appropriations going forward. The Controller’s office also requested a communications manager position to support public-facing transparency initiatives such as Transparent Idaho and the Local Government Data Registry; the committee included that position in the approved package.
