Idaho state budget (2009-2010)

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Note: This article was last updated in 2010. Click here for more recent information on state budgets and finances.


The FY 2010 budget retracted spending from FY 2009 levels in response to diminishing revenues, yet further decreases in revenue projections announced in September 2009 for the current fiscal year that started July 1, 2009 and ended June 30, 2010 created a $151.4 million budget shortfall.[1]

According to the governor's "2010 State of the State" address, in order to balance Idaho's FY 2010 budget, in addition to the already-implemented 4% tiered holdbacks announced in September 2009 a $40 million budget cut was necessary to solve the existing budget shortfall. Specifically, cuts would be made to public education, cash for a livestock research center would be delayed, 400 state jobs would be cut and various fees would be increased. Despite the proposed budget cuts the governor said he would not increase taxes.[2] However, in January 2010 state officials announced that a revenue forecast for FY 2010 was less $69 million below Gov. Otter's estimate of $40 million.[3] The state was also considering increasing "sin taxes" to help balance the state budget.[4]

For FY 2010, the state's revenues were $2.26 billion, less than forecasts that ranged from $2.65 billion to $2.34 billion.[5]

Budget background

See also: Idaho state budget and finances

Idaho's fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30 of the following year. In September individual state agencies submit their budget requests for the next fiscal year. Between October and November the governor hears from each agency and works with analysts before completing the recommended budget for the upcoming fiscal year.[6] During the first week that the legislature returns to session in January the governor presents his budget recommendation. The bill must pass the House and the Senate before it is signed by the governor.[7]

Budget figures

Gov. Otter recommended in January of 2009 a 4% holdback of appropriations for FY 2009 to finish the year with an additional 2% to be held in reserve, which the Idaho Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee confirmed.[8]

Idaho state budget comparison, all funds[9]

FY 2008 appropriated FY 2008 actual FY 2009 appropriated FY 2010 requested FY 2010 governor's rec.
$6.04 billion $5.27 billion $5.90 billion $6.42 billion $5.79 billion

Idaho state budget comparison, general funds[10]

FY 2008 appropriated FY 2008 actual FY 2009 appropriated FY 2010 requested FY 2010 governor's rec.
$2.83 billion $2.80 billion $2.96 billion $3.23 billion $2.74 billion

FY 2008 – FY 2009 comparison of general fund revenue collections[11]

Individual income tax Corporate income tax Sales tax Product tax Misc. revenue Total
FY 2008 $1,430.2 $189.7 $1,142.5 $26.8 $120.7 $2,909.9
FY 2009 $1,167.9 $141.0 $1,022.2 $29.7 $104.8 $2,465.6
$ change ($262.3) ($48.7) ($120.3) $2.9 ($15.9) ($444.3)
% change (18.3%) (25.7%) (10.5%) 10.8% (13.2%) (15.3%)

The following table provides a history of Idaho's expenditures and gross domestic product (GDP).

Fiscal year Expenditures (billions) GDP (billions)
2000 $6.4[12] $35.0[12]
2001 $7.0[12] $35.6[12]
2002 $7.6[12] $36.7[12]
2003 $8.0[12] $38.1[12]
2004 $8.4[12] $42.6[12]
2005 $8.9[12] $46.4[12]
2006 $9.3[12] $48.4[12]
2007 $9.8[12] $51.1[12]
2008 $10.2[12] $54.0[12]
2009 $10.7*[12] $57.0*[12]

Accounting principles

See also: Idaho government accounting principles

The Legislative Audits Division of the Legislative Services Office, under the direction of the Legislative Council, is charged with the responsibility to audit the state's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and perform the annual Federal Single Audit required by federal regulations. Their audit reports are published online. Don Berg was Manager of the Division as of 2009.[13]

As of 2009, Donna M. Jones had been Idaho State Controller since 2007. The Idaho state controller is one of seven statewide elected constitutional officers in the executive branch of Idaho state government and serves a four-year term. In 1994, a constitutional amendment passed by Idaho voters changed the name of the state auditor to state controller. This amendment granted the state controller the authority to establish statewide internal pre-audit accounting controls to assure state funds were spent properly. The amendment transferred post-audit functions to the Legislative Services Office, enabling separation of accounting and after-the-fact auditing operations.[14]

The state controller is the chief fiscal officer of the state of Idaho, responsible for:[14]

  • Maintaining all accounting and financial records
  • Paying all the state’s bills and employees
  • Preparing the state’s annual financial report
  • Operating the state’s Computer Service Center
Credit rating Fitch Moody's S&P
Idaho[15] NR Aa2 AA

2009-2010 budget crisis

Gov. Otter announced on September 25, 2009 “tiered holdbacks” of state spending averaging a total of 4% to close the budget gap until the Idaho State Legislature met in January of 2010 to make transfers and adjustments in light of the lower revenue figures. Gov. Otter would request the legislature to transfer $49.3 million from the Public Education Stabilization Fund to the general fund. This transfer combined with the 4% tiered holdbacks would cover 65% of the year’s shortfall.[16]

Regarding the holdback, Gov. Otter stated, “This is not an across-the-board holdback. My executive order distinguishes between the critical, constitutionally required, essential and other services of state government. This goes way beyond the difference between ‘necessary’ and ‘nice.’ It goes to the fundamental requirements and expectations that we have for state government.”[17]

According to the governor's "2010 State of the State" address, in order to balance Idaho's FY 2010 budget an additional $40 million would be cut from the state budget. Specifically, cuts would be made to public education and cash for a livestock research center would be delayed. Additionally, the governor planned to cut 400 state jobs, raise state park fees, eliminate Idaho Public Television $1.7 million funding over the next four years. In terms of cutting approximately 400 state jobs, according to reports, most of the jobs to be eliminated were then vacant. The governor also proposed eliminating funding to a total of six agencies, including: the Human Rights Commission, Hispanic Commission, Independent Living Council, Developmental Disabilities Council, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Council and Digital Learning Academy. However, despite the budget cuts the governor said he would not increase taxes. The proposed budget totaled $2.46 billion, a $40 million decrease from the FY 2010 budget.[2][18]

Budget transparency

See also: Evaluation of Idaho state website

As of 2009, Idaho had no statewide, official spending database online, despite Idaho Representative Phil Hart's work to promote transparency through Idaho House Bill 177 (2009).

Government tools

The following table is helpful in evaluating the level of transparency provided by a state spending and transparency database:

Criteria for evaluating spending databases
State database Searchability Grants Contracts Line item expenditures Dept./agency budgets Public employee salary Exemption level
None n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Economic stimulus transparency

  • It was estimated that Idaho would receive at least $728 million in federal funding.[19]
  • Idaho would receive $104 million from the federal government as part of the second stimulus, a $26 billion plan to give states money for Medicaid and education that the President signed into law on August 10, 2010.[20]

Error in ARRP

According to Recovery.gov, stimulus funds were going to 884 congressional districts, though there are only 435.[21][22]

Recovery.gov overshot the number of congressional districts in Idaho by ten. The state’s 5th District received $1.2 million, though the district does not exist.[23]

Public employee salary information

See also: Idaho state government salary

See also

External links

Additional reading

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Gov. Butch Otter News Release, “State Revenue Forecast Down Sharply,” September 3, 2009
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Associated Press, "Idaho Gov Proposes Education, Public TV Fund Cuts," January 11, 2010
  3. ↑ Idaho Statesman, "Idaho's revenue blues grow even worse," January 21, 2010
  4. ↑ Watchdog, Idaho lawmakers may use ’sin taxes’ to fill budget holes in upcoming session, Sept. 22, 2010
  5. ↑ The Times News MagicValley.com "Otter's budget chief 'cautiously optimistic'" July 29, 2010
  6. ↑ Idaho Legislature, "Budget process," accessed April 14,2009
  7. ↑ Division of Financial Management, "Budget process," accessed April 14,2009
  8. ↑ University of Idaho, “State of Idaho Budget Holdback Update,” February 14, 2009
  9. ↑ “FY 2010 Legislative Budget Book,” accessed November 10, 2010 (dead link)
  10. ↑ Idaho State Legislature, “FY 2010 Legislative Budget Book,” accessed October 20, 2009 (dead link)
  11. ↑ Idaho State Legislature, Legislative Perspective, "General Fund Budget Update," July/August 2009
  12. ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 12.12 12.13 12.14 12.15 12.16 12.17 12.18 12.19 US Government Spending, "Idaho State and Local spending," accessed April 13,2009
  13. ↑ Idaho Legislative Audits Division Web site, accessed October 20, 2009
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Office of the Idaho State Controller Web site, accessed October 20, 2009
  15. ↑ "State of Indiana," “State Credit Ratings-as of June 24, 2009
  16. ↑ Gov. Butch Otter News Release, “Governor Orders Tiered Holdback,” September 25, 2009
  17. ↑ Gov. Butch Otter News Release, “Governor Orders Tiered Holdback,” September 25, 2009
  18. ↑ Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Idaho Legislators Scour Budget, Look For Places To Cut Spending," January 25, 2010
  19. ↑ Wall Street Journal, "Stimulus Spending by State," April 9,2009
  20. ↑ Federal Fund Information for States “ARRA FMAP Extension & Education Jobs Fund Totals” Aug. 11, 2010
  21. ↑ $6.4 Billion Stimulus goes to Phantom Districts, Watchdog.org, November 17, 2009
  22. ↑ Stimulus Creates Jobs in Non-Existent Congressional Districts, Watchdog.org, November 16, 2009
  23. ↑ Idaho, Watchdog.org, November 17, 2009
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