JFAC approves major Idaho Transportation Department package after contested amendments

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a package of appropriations and reappropriations for the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), including $84,963,600 in combined dedicated and federal funds for the Highway Operations Division and $112,276,000 from federal and dedicated funds for contract construction and right-of-way acquisition, and provided reappropriation authority not to exceed $300 million.

The package matters because it funds deferred maintenance, heavy equipment replacement and public transit grants across Idaho, directs targeted salary increases for specified employees, and contains language earmarking funds for specific road widening projects in rapidly growing corridors.

Most significant actions included a motion (mover: Senator Woodward) approving $71,371,600 from dedicated funds and $13,592,000 from federal funds (total $84,963,600) for enhancements in Highway Operations: targeted compensation enhancements (CEC), $10.21 million for new heavy equipment, $11.4 million for public transit, $1.36 million for automated materials software, $700,000 for a highway safety public-awareness grant, $580,000 for metropolitan planning pass-throughs, $565,000 final CARES-era public transit distributions, $347,000 for historical marker work and $55.613 million for equipment replacement (heavy vehicles and fleet). That motion passed (Senate 6 aye, 4 nay; House 7 aye, 3 nay; total 13–7).

Separately, JFAC voted to provide $112,276,000 (including $107,276,000 federal funds and $5,000,000 dedicated funds) for contract construction and right-of-way acquisition and granted reappropriation authority not to exceed $300,000,000 (mover: Senator Cook). That motion passed (Senate 9–1; House unanimous), and a second related motion transferring $275,000,000 from the general fund to strategic initiatives and local highway distribution funds (Senator Cook) also passed (Senate 9–1; House unanimous). A substitute motion (Senator Hart) that would have transferred $150,000,000 instead failed in both committees (total 5 ayes, 15 nays).

Committee members debated multiple alternatives and clarifications throughout the ITD discussion. A substitute motion to alter the Highway Operations package (reducing total dedicated fund additions and cutting two FTPs) failed in both chambers; the body then adopted the original motion. Committee members repeatedly noted the overall ITD appropriation is much smaller than last year’s request; several speakers stressed the complexity of the ITD budget and expressed concern about deferred maintenance and the long-term funding picture for highways. Senator Ward Engelking called attention to local maintenance needs after recent bridge and highway closures; others noted the fuel-tax real value has fallen relative to inflation and that general-fund transfers represent a policy shift.

The committee also approved language conditions by unanimous consent: (1) a requirement that local airports be confirmed not to be in violation of federal non-aeronautical-use policy before receiving ITD grants and (2) earmarks that at least $13.2 million be used for design and construction of a specified town-center arterial project and that at least $50,000,000 be used for a residential mobility arterial connecting a state highway to a U.S. highway (language accepted by unanimous consent).

What the motions do not do: the adopted Highway Operations motion did not include requested funding to relocate District 4 headquarters; instead the committee funded renovations at ITD’s State Street headquarters. Committee members also left the governor’s $10,000,000 aeronautics initiative in place but clarified which items were one-time reappropriations versus ongoing appropriations.

Ending: The package, with its directed language and reappropriation authority, moves to the next step in the legislative process with JFAC’s due-pass recommendations. Committee discussion flagged further follow-up: several members asked staff to provide a more detailed equipment list for the $10.21 million new-equipment request and suggested continuing oversight on maintenance funding and ongoing fund-source policy.