Legislative services demonstrate budget dashboards and press for outcome‑focused performance measures

Legislative budget and policy analysts briefed JFAC on new tools and practices meant to improve budget transparency and accountability.

Brooke Dupree, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, reviewed the decision‑unit budget model used in the legislative budget book and explained how benchmarks (from prior‑year appropriation to the next fiscal‑year original appropriation) and decision units (maintenance, enhancements) are constructed.

Casey Hartwig of the Impact Review Team demonstrated the base budget dashboards (Power BI) that display statewide and agency budget histories, ongoing and one‑time enhancements, and FTP authorizations. Hartwig emphasized the dashboards reflect legislative approvals and are not adjusted for inflation or population growth; he said hover details and enhancement descriptions are being refined and the dashboards are available on the legislative website.

Jared Tetrault (Impact Review Team) discussed performance measures and how JFAC can use them in appropriation decisions. He reviewed statutory requirements (Idaho Code 67‑1902 and 67‑1904), described characteristics of good measures (outcome‑focused, valid, documented) and noted the committee has begun tying enhancement requests to stated outcomes and measures. Tetrault suggested the committee use work groups to evaluate measures and consider CLR language or reporting requirements when funding is contingent on measurable results.

Members requested dashboard improvements (adjustments for inflation/population for comparative views) and discussed using performance language in appropriation bills to hold agencies accountable for outcomes; staff said they will pursue incremental improvements and can produce adjusted lines for members on request.