The early, preliminary estimate of a $13 million shortfall in December's state tax revenues has now shrunk to $12.6 million, according to Gov. Butch Otter's budget chief, Wayne Hammon. "That's why we don't release it, because it always changes," he said. Yesterday, under questioning by…
State Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna told a joint meeting of the House and Senate education committees this morning that the federal "Race to the Top" grants - which are offering $4.35 billion in stimulus funds through competitive grants - may be "the only way…
In the last two fiscal years, the state has laid off 295 employees, according to a report legislative budget analyst Keith Bybee just presented to JFAC. That was 149 in fiscal year 2009, and 146 so far in the current year, fy 2010. (Bybee cautioned…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the new "Friday furloughs" that will close every Health & Welfare office in the state - except state hospitals - at noon every other Friday, and send employees home early without pay to save money.…
As reactions to Gov. Butch Otter's State of the State and budget message continue to ripple across the state, the Senate majority leadership this afternoon sent out a press release reacting to the House and Senate Democrats' comments at a press conference this morning in…
The deadline for filing campaign finance reports that cover the period through Dec. 31 hasn't yet arrived, but two candidates already are releasing numbers. Keith Allred, Democratic candidate for governor, announced today that in the three weeks since he filed his declaration of candidacy on…
"At the end of the day, we punted," Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, co-chair of the Task Force to Identify Alternative Funding Sources for the Idaho State Police and Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation, told the Legislative Council. "We did not want to jump out…
Members of the Legislative Council are now hearing reports from each of the interim legislative committees and task forces, which have mostly modest agendas this year given the budget crisis. First up was Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, co-chairman of the Energy, Environment & Technology interim…
Gov. Butch Otter's not surprised to see Health & Welfare order Friday furloughs for hundreds of employees, his press secretary, Jon Hanian, told Eye on Boise. "We, I think, knew that there was going to be a mix of these type of measures, and obviously…
All Idaho Health & Welfare offices except state hospitals will close at noon every other Friday for the rest of the year, and the employees will be on furlough for those half-days. Notice of the move went out to all of the department's employees yesterday…
House and Senate Democrats gathered this morning to give their response to yesterday's State of the State message, calling proposed cuts to education short-sighted and saying they favor using all available resources to help bring the state out of the recession. "The current budget crisis…
Among the questions from JFAC members to the governor's budget chief, Wayne Hammon, this morning: What are the December revenue numbers? They're not in yet, Hammon responded, but against the advice of the state's chief economist, he shared the preliminary figures, noting that they'll change.…
Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, asked Wayne Hammon about the proposal to eliminate state funding for Idaho Public Television over the next four years, noting that three-quarters of IPTV's budget already comes from other sources. "We have used general fund money to give them seed money,…
Gov. Butch Otter is calling for a $1.05 million supplemental appropriation for enrollment growth at the College of Western Idaho, "and yet other higher ed facilities, we're not addressing enrollment growth," JFAC Co-Chair Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, just pointed out to the governor's budget director, Wayne…
In going over the governor's budget proposal, Wayne Hammon, the governor's budget chief, told JFAC that the governor thinks it's "regrettable" that he's proposing no pay raise for state employees. Legally required salaries for state elected officials remain in the budget. "The governor believes the…
There's a full house in JFAC this morning for the first meeting of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, the panel that writes the state budget. After some preliminaries, the joint committee is now hearing from Wayne Hammon, Gov. Butch Otter's budget chief, about the governor's budget…
From 2 to 4 p.m. today, all of the Legislature's interim committees and task forces will present reports on what they've come up with since last year's legislative session. The meeting will be in the JFAC room on the third floor; click here for the…
Gov. Butch Otter laid out a grim budget proposal for Idaho today, calling for cutting public education both this year and next, slashing 400 state jobs, phasing out state funding for Idaho Public TV over the next four years and more. Here's a link to…
Keith Allred, former head of The Common Interest citizen group and now a Democratic candidate for governor, was in the Capitol rotunda after Gov. Butch Otter's State of the State address, and he was plenty critical. “Gov. Otter today delivered a message of decline and…
Gov. Butch Otter, answering questions from reporters in his office after his State of the State message, acknowledged that he's set his proposed budget for next year at $83.4 million less than his economists expect from state tax revenues. "I just think that we've overguessed…
State Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna says Gov. Butch Otter's proposed budget for next year cuts $138 million out of public schools, on top of the $68 million that was cut this year. "That's $200 million over two years," Luna said. He said he'll try…
At the conclusion of Gov. Butch Otter's State of the State message, in which he called for a no-growth budget for next year, House Speaker Lawerence Denney responded, "Thank you, governor. We'll look forward to working with you to solve the tough issues that are…
"Legislative sessions have averaged 82 days over the past 20 years or so," the governor told lawmakers. "Last year factors beyond our control pushed us about 50 percent over that average. I'm sure you share my hope today that - by sticking to our principles…
"I will not allow Idaho to become the nation's dumping ground for its elemental mercury," Gov. Butch Otter declared in his State of the State message just now, saying he'll continue his fight against federal moves to bring mercury to Idaho. Then he compared it…
Gov. Butch Otter called for funding to "handle the tremendous enrollment growth" at the College of Western Idaho; "fully funding our commitments to cooperative medical education programs;" continuing to invest in the Center for Advanced Energy Studies in Idaho Falls; and to provide $1 million…
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