More budgets set, Youth Challenge funding not yet addressed…

Budgets for the offices of the governor and the lieutenant were quickly approved by JFAC this morning on unanimous, 20-0 votes; neither contains any new line items, and the only increases are for the 2 percent raises for state employees and statutorily required increases in the two elected officials’ salaries.

The joint committee also voted unanimously for a budget for the Military Division for next year that doesn’t include $1.25 million requested for the Youth Challenge program, which would set up a school in north-central Idaho. “The intent here is not to just say no to the Youth Challenge program,” said Rep. Darrell Bolz, R-Caldwell. “We had a meeting late yesterday afternoon, and there was some new information that came in. I feel uncomfortable at this point in time … not really knowing enough about how the program is going to move forward.” Bolz said his proposal would fund the division and leave for now the issue of funding the Youth Challenge, with the idea that it could be addressed later either with a trailer bill or reopening the budget. Gov. Butch Otter recommended earlier this month that the program be funded from excess funds in the Division of Veterans Services.

Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, said, “I really like the idea of the Youth Challenge program, but I’d really like to see maybe just a one- or two-page summary that would help me understand where we are today.” Rep. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, agreed. “We’ve got to get a little better vision … on this program,” he said.

At the close of the meeting, JFAC Co-Chair Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, warned committee members, “The budgets will be increasing now in difficulty. We start Monday with Fish & Game.”