Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildfire Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves $40 million transfer to fire fund and enhances Department of Lands budget
Summary
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 14 approved a $40 million one-time transfer from the general fund to the Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund and a separate FY2026 package of enhancements for the Department of Lands that adds staff, equipment and firefighter bonuses.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a one-time transfer of $40,000,000 from the general fund to the Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund and later approved a FY2026 enhancement package for the Department of Lands that adds three full-time positions and roughly $6.8 million in combined general and dedicated funds.
The supplemental transfer is intended to increase the department's dedicated fund to better cover wildfire suppression costs during the fire season. "This request is for a transfer of $40,000,000 one time from the general fund to the fire suppression deficiency fund," budget analyst Miss Jessup told the committee. The FY2026 enhancement motion included pay and equipment requests and a separate one-time allocation for replacement items and firefighter bonuses.
Why it matters: Idaho has faced large wildfire-related expenses in recent years. Senator Woodward warned committee members that the transfer should raise the fund "above $50,000,000," but noted that last fire season cost about $60,000,000 and the department may still need to use deficiency warrant authority if an equally costly season recurs.
Committee action and key elements: Representative Manwaring moved the $40 million transfer, and the motion carried unanimously between the two committees with a combined tally of 20 ayes, 0 nays. Later in the hearing the committee approved a FY2026 package to add 3 FTE and $6,806,000 (approximately $2,061,200 general fund and $4,744,800 dedicated funds). The enhancement package included funding for fire detection cameras, fire equipment, satellite fire detection and mapping services, bonuses for IDL and Timber Protective Association firefighters and several position upgrades.
Committee discussion noted the scale of the firefighter bonus program and staffing: Representative Gallavese said the bonus allocation covered "upwards of 350 firefighters" who in the field worked extended shifts during wildfire season. Miss Jessup relayed that Director Miller reported "last year approximately 300 individuals received bonuses." The package also includes a number of dedicated-fund actions and small transfers between internal programs to correct compensation allocations.
Next steps: Both motions will be sent to the floor with due pass recommendations. The committee adopted associated condition, limitation and restriction language for the abandoned mines and related funds by unanimous consent during the Lands portion of the hearing.
Clarifying details: {"category":"transfer amount","detail":"$40,000,000 one-time transfer from General Fund to Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund","value":40000000,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Miss Jessup"},{"category":"recent season cost","detail":"Cost of most recent fire season","value":60000000,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Senator Woodward"},{"category":"firefighter bonuses_recipient_count","detail":"Approximate number of individuals who received bonuses last year","value":300,"units":"persons","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Miss Jessup"}
Ending: The committee acted to bolster a dedicated wildfire fund and to add targeted FY2026 resources to the Department of Lands. Both actions carried due-pass recommendations to the full legislature.
