JFAC approves Parks and Recreation budget boost, consolidation and targeted projects

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted Tuesday to add $8,135,700 in new spending authority and five full-time equivalent positions to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation for fiscal year 2026.

The move, offered by Senator Hart and seconded by Representative Manwaring, adds $5,410,700 from dedicated funds and $2,725,000 in federal funds and includes line items described by Hart for personnel pay increases, seasonal positions, operating costs, targeted pay increases, a campaign for off-highway vehicle use, site improvements, equipment replacement and information-technology hardware. The motion also transfers $23,035,600 from the department’s management services program to the park operations program to consolidate programing and funding. The committee approved the motion 17 ayes to 3 nays.

Committee analyst Janet Jessup of Legislative Services described the department and the vote context before the motion was offered. The approved package, as read into the record, included: $321,100 for park personnel pay; $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 (off-highway vehicle) use campaign; $4,000,000 for improvements at Bear Lake State Park; $400,000 for improvements at Lake Cascade; $2,263,000 for replacement items; and $197,500 for OITS hardware, in addition to the program consolidation transfer described above.

Representative Furness questioned the $2.263 million replacement-items line, asking whether retained funds could cover the need. Members of the committee work group explained they reduced the replacement-items request because retained (carryforward) balances could be used to cover some replacement items in future years.

After the vote the committee accepted language on the screen to allow the newly consolidated park operations program to transfer monies to the capital development program for the purpose of awarding grants. Senator Hart requested unanimous consent to accept the language; no objections were recorded.

The committee recorded votes individually during roll call; the committee chair announced the final tallies as 8 ayes and 2 nays in the Senate panel and 9 ayes and 1 nay in the House panel, yielding the overall 17–3 result. The committee will forward the department’s budget with a “do pass” recommendation.

The committee did not specify further implementation dates or detailed grant criteria in the meeting; the language accepted directs the department to allow transfers to capital grant accounts under the consolidated program.