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JFAC funds State Controller LUMA costs, moves project into regular budget
Summary
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved moving LUMA personnel and operating costs from a continuously appropriated account onto the regular FY2026 budget, adding personnel and operating dollars while clarifying that this is not net new program spending but a fund-source change.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 12 approved multiple enhancements to the State Controller’s office that bring LUMA (the statewide financial-management and accounting modernization effort) costs onto the regular FY2026 budget.
Key points - The motions moved LUMA personnel and operating costs that had been paid from a continuously appropriated account into the Controller’s FY2026 base budget. The package added 10 full-time-equivalent positions (the document described 7 FTP for LUMA personnel and 2 FTP for shared-services financial specialists plus other positions) and appropriated a total of $15,243,000 (a combination of general and dedicated funds as stated in the motion). The motion-maker emphasized this is a fund-source reallocation and not duplicative new spending: when compared to the office’s FY2024 actuals, these changes represent a decrease in overall out-year continuity and add transparency by putting the costs on the regular appropriations schedule. - Enhancement detail included funding for LUMA personnel and operating costs, computer service center charges, two financial specialists to support smaller agencies, and a communications manager to support transparency platforms such as Transparent Idaho and the local government data registry. A subsequent language motion required accounting corrections and the transfer of indirect cost recoveries back to the general fund at fiscal year-end; that language passed by roll call.
Votes and outcome - The appropriation motion passed with a combined committee result recorded as 15 ayes, 3 nays, 2 absent/excused. The related language moved by roll call also carried with a combined tally reported in committee.
Why it matters - LUMA is Idaho’s enterprise financial system; bringing costs into the regular budget increases fiscal transparency for the project and aligns the Controller’s office accounting with standard appropriations practice. The committee repeatedly emphasized that the dollar totals reflect existing expenditures previously paid from a continuously appropriated account rather than brand-new spending.
Sources: Legislative Services Office presentation; Representative Petzke and others during committee debate and roll call.
