Note: This year IFF rated maintenance bills according to a more refined system. This is an enhancement bill, and will be rated as a standalone bill. IFF will only consider enhancement line items in these ratings. This means that FTP reductions passed in maintenance legislation will not be evaluated here, among other things.
Bill Description: Senate Bill 1426 is an enhancement of $98,857,800 and 0.00 new full-time positions for the Idaho Department of Transportation for fiscal year 2027. This legislation appropriates a total of $1,037,023,900 and 1,645.00 full-time positions to the agency.
Note: SoP has minor clerical error. It is currently being fixed. The numbers in this rating may be slightly changed, but the rating will not change.
Rating: -1
Is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending, if any, inappropriate for the changes in circumstances, scope of the agency, or current economic environment? Conversely, is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending appropriate given any change in circumstances or economic pressures?
This legislation authorizes an ongoing spending enhancement for the Department of Transportation of $6,741,100, adding onto last year’s (FY26) increase in ongoing spending of $118,323,100. FY26’s ongoing spending is wrapped into FY27’s base increase, making ongoing spending especially important to scrutinize. Volatility in these increases (or decreases) is to be expected, and makes discernment on the propriety of new spending imperative.
This ongoing expenditure likely consists of two enhancements. The first being Available Projected Revenue ($4,548,400 DF) and some amount of Operations and Maintenance ($2,553,400 DF).
(0)
Does this budget incur any wasteful spending among discretionary funds, including new line items? Conversely, does this budget contain any provisions that serve to reduce spending where possible (i.e. base reductions, debt reconciliation, etc.)?
This legislation authorizes onetime spending for the Department of Transportation of $91,824,200, adding additional expenditures after last year’s (FY26) onetime spending of $118,596,900. Onetime spending is often even more volatile than ongoing spending, which is to be expected due to the onetime expenses generally being utilized for projects or capital outlay. This also calls for special scrutiny and discernment.
There are numerous onetime enhancements, all from dedicated funds. These include Deferred Maintenance Projects ($15,500,000 DF), Roadside Safety – Tree Removal ($4,975,000 DF), New Equipment ($4,699,900 DF), Airfield Improvements ($350,000 DF) and Aeronautics Maintenance ($43,000 DF). New Equipment is particularly unwarranted, especially so in a deficit year.
Other onetime expenditure include Replacement Items ($63,504,700 DF) and OITS hardware ($2,683,400 DF)
(-1)
