Advisory council approves $196,600 America250 budget, authorizes private donations

The Idaho America250 advisory council approved a $196,600 budget on Feb. 14 to fund a July 4 parade, park events and statewide ambassador programming and authorized the solicitation and acceptance of private donations.

Senator Guthrie moved that "the committee approve the proposed America February budget as presented including funding for the July and support for the America 2 50 Ambassador programs," and specified that funds for the ambassador programs would be managed by the treasurer's office while funds for the July 4 celebration would be managed by the A250 subcommittee. Treasurer Julie Ellsworth seconded the motion; Chairman Adams called for a voice vote and the motion passed.

Why it matters: the budget covers parade production, park programming, security and outreach intended to engage communities across Idaho. Representative Sonia Galvez, who led the subcommittee planning the capital’s events, said the cost-sharing arrangement will keep state obligations limited. "We have some cost sharing that we'll talk about... they're picking up 60% of a lot of the parade related expenses. And then our Idaho America 2 50 is coming in with 40%," Galvez said, describing collaboration with an existing parade organizer identified in the packet as We The People.

Treasurer Ellsworth described how the treasurer's office will support logistics and outreach. She asked the council for flexibility to hire short-term help for messaging and production and presented several merchandising and outreach items the office is coordinating. Among the items discussed were "go bags" of signage for counties, a traveling Liberty Bell carriage (Treasurer Ellsworth said the ask to start the carriage project is $25,000), a challenge coin in production, a heritage-fountain rendering pending, and statewide coordination with Idaho Public TV for event coverage. "It is now to the point that we cannot keep up," Ellsworth said of ambassador and outreach activity, reporting about 1,100 ambassadors across "83 cities, 44 counties, 33 businesses, 10 schools, and 3 veterans groups." She said social-media engagement and school activities have been widespread.

The council authorized acceptance of private donations to support the work; Senator Guthrie’s motion included a provision allowing the solicitation and acceptance of private donations to support America250 efforts. The committee recorded the approval by voice vote; individual member tallies were not specified in the meeting record.

Next steps: the treasurer's office and the A250 subcommittee will proceed with production and outreach planning and manage the allocated funds as directed. The council scheduled its next meeting for March 9 in the afternoon.