Commerce gets budget boost, but it’s a fraction of what’s been cut

The Idaho Department of Commerce would see a big percentage boost in its state funding next year, under a budget set by the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning, but that’s mainly because of $1 million in IGEM funding that’s part of the department’s budget and because of restoration of a small fraction of the department’s grants programs, which have been slashed by millions of dollars since 2009. The department would get $5.75 million in state general funds next year, a 46.3 percent increase.

“While this budget does have a very large general fund increase this year, it’s still well below the high water mark of $7.7 million in 2009,” said Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum. “It is one of the only areas in state government which the gentlemen on the second floor (the governor) has asked to restore.” The budget approved by JFAC matches Gov. Butch Otter’s recommendation.