Department of Lands highlights growing fire costs, requests staff and funding; governor recommends large transfers to suppression fund

The Idaho Department of Lands told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Tuesday that wildfire costs and complexity have risen, prompting budget requests for additional fire staff, equipment and one-time projects. Director Dustin Miller and Legislative Services analyst Janet Jessup walked the committee through the department's budget, the fire suppression deficiency fund and related policy issues.

Why it matters: The Department of Lands oversees trust lands, wildfire response on those lands, and distributes assessments and funds used for fire protection. The committee heard that suppression costs are variable and can be large; the governor recommended multi-million-dollar transfers to the fire suppression deficiency fund and one-time firefighter bonuses.

Key budget items and governor recommendations

Janet Jessup summarized the Department of Lands budget and dedicated funds, noting the department runs six programs and that much of its spending is personnel. She explained the fire suppression deficiency fund is continuously appropriated and historically receives transfers from the general fund. "It is like a credit card," she said, describing how agencies may spend into a…