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Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State revenues now $141 million below Idaho Legislature's projections
The state flags hangs from the rotunda of the Idaho State Capitol Building in Boise on Jan. 7, 2025. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Idaho state revenues fell short of expectations in May and now run $141.5 million below the projection set by the Idaho Legislature earlier this year, according to a new monthly revenue report released Thursday by the state. CONTACT US A month ago, state revenues lagged the Idaho Legislature's projection by $97.7 million, the Idaho Capital Sun reported. Now, revenues are running $141.5 million below the Idaho Legislature's forecast with less than one month remaining in the fiscal year, according to the May Budget and Revenue Monitor report. Idaho is still projected to finish the 2025 fiscal year on June 30 with a positive ending balance of $278.2 million, according to the May report. However, that projected ending balance has shrunk from the approximately $420 million ending balance that the Idaho Legislature planned on when the 2025 legislative session adjourned April 4. The revenue forecasts and collections are important because the Idaho Legislature built them into the state budget. Idaho runs on a fiscal year calendar that begins July 1 and ends June 30 every year. That means fiscal year 2025 is about to end, and fiscal year 2026 is about to begin. Rep. Wendy Horman, an Idaho Falls Republican who serves as co-chair of the Idaho Legislature's Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, said the new revenue report shows positive strength in Idaho's economy despite the missed forecast. The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, or JFAC, is a powerful legislative committee that sets the budget for every state agency and department. Compared to last year, revenue collections are up by $145.3 million, or 2.9%, according to the May report. 'I think this gives us good news about Idaho's economy,' Horman said in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. 'Sometimes when you look at numbers against a forecast, it tells us more about the forecast than the revenue.' The revenue report shows the sales tax distributions were less than last year and a driving factor in the revenue shortfall. Other revenue sources, including individual income tax collections, corporate income tax and miscellaneous revenues, were all up. Lori Wolff, administrator of the Idaho Division of Financial Management, also expressed confidence in Idaho's economy after the revenue report was released Thursday. 'Gov. Little and the Legislature have consistently prioritized responsible budgeting, which has led to Idaho's tremendous economic success,' Wolff said in a written statement. 'We are still seeing year over year growth in revenue, signaling a strong Idaho economy. We have made investments in critical priorities while leaving a $400 million cushion on the bottom line to hedge against revenue softening. Idaho also has 22% of General Fund revenues in rainy day funds, greater than almost every other state. While we continue to watch revenue closely, we feel good about the strength of the state budget and our economy.' Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, said her heart sank when she read the new revenue report. She said the state will still have enough money to pay for programs in the current year's budget, but she worries cuts are forthcoming next year. 'I am deeply concerned that all of the tax cuts and the underestimating of revenue will create an on-ramp for my legislative colleagues to easily and unfortunately cut valuable programs and services that Idahoans need,' Wintrow said in a phone interview Thursday. 'That is really what I have been dreading this whole time.' During the 2025 legislative session, the Idaho Legislature cut taxes by $400 million and provided an additional $50 million to create a new refundable tax credit for education expenses, including tuition at private, religious schools. Those actions reduced the amount of state revenue that the state has to spend in its budget by $453 million. The role of revenue in the budget is extremely important. The Idaho Constitution requires the state to pass a balanced budget each year where expenses don't exceed revenues. Horman said the newest revenue numbers still demonstrate the Idaho Legislature took a responsible approach to budgeting this year. 'It makes me especially glad we more than doubled the amount we typically leave on the bottom line when we adjourned sine die because it's giving us a cushion to adjust to the decline in sales tax revenue,' Horman said, using the Latin term sine die that legislators use when they adjourn the legislative session for the year. Horman said it will be important to monitor all revenue sources between now and when the Idaho Legislature convenes the 2026 session in January. She also said it would be a concern if revenues continued to to fall below the forecast in the coming months and into the forthcoming 2026 fiscal year. 'Looking at the trends with sales tax tells us we made the right decision to have conservative budgeting this year, and we will need to monitor all revenue sources between now and January,' Horman said. 'I do anticipate another year of probably even more conservative budgeting (next year) than we saw this year.' Horman said the Idaho Legislature has invested $7 billion in infrastructure projects like roads, school facilities, water projects, the permanent building fund and more over the past five years. She said the $1.05 to $1.55 per hour pay increases for state employees approved this year represent the largest salary increase in terms of dollars in state history. But Horman said next year's budget may be more lean in terms of spending. 'We will need to be cautious about investments we make in the maintenance budgets as well as the budget enhancements moving forward,' Horman said, referencing the new budget procedures where JFAC splits agency budgets into two parts. Wintrow said she's worried. 'I don't see my colleagues going back on their tax cuts to increase revenue, and my heart sinks wondering about the effects, which are dramatic and potentially harmful,' Wintrow said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Western states like Idaho are drowning in legislation
Members of the Idaho Senate work from the Senate floor on the morning of March 10, 2025, at the Idaho Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Who knew there were this many things that had to be fixed? The legislative sessions in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Washington are over. Depending on your political perspective, the benefits — or damages — will be felt for years to come. One thing that isn't in dispute? Lawmakers couldn't help but introduce a record number of bills in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Washington may also be added to that list, depending on what happens in the second part of its biennium. More pieces of legislation were prepared for Idaho's 2025 session than in the last 30 years In Idaho, lawmakers introduced nearly 800 pieces of legislation — the highest mark going back at least 16 years. Less than 50% of the legislation actually made it across the finish line. Higher numbers are expected in Idaho, as lawmakers now individually introduce and approve every state department budget, rather than just one large state budget. Still, the numbers are staggering, not only for lawmakers who work at the state capitol, but also for citizens who try to follow the session and be involved in the process. Making it more challenging in Idaho is the sometimes minimal lack of notice regarding hearings for bills that have been introduced. We've recommended that lawmakers commit to a Rule of Three to allow citizens more time to be engaged. In Montana, lawmakers also hit a record of 1,761 bills introduced, with a little more than half being signed into law by Gov. Greg Gianforte. Montana's joint Rule 40-40 'allows members of the Montana Legislature to request an unlimited number of bill or resolution drafts before December 5. After that date, a member may request the Legislative Council to prepare no more than seven bills or resolutions. Unused requests by one member may be granted to another member. The limits do not apply to code commissioner bills or committee bills.' In Wyoming, which divides sessions among general session years and budget years, lawmakers also hit a record of 556 bills introduced. But only 31% became law. Washington state lawmakers were by far the least productive, passing only 19.5% of the more than 2,000 bills they introduced. And they're not done yet, as Washington works on a biennium and lawmakers will return next January to continue increasing the number. Passing legislation certainly isn't a contest. And this column is in no way an encouragement to increase the across-the-finish-line percentages. But it is worth pointing out that introducing legislation takes time and resources — resources that are provided by taxpayers (so perhaps a new state rock shouldn't be high on a lawmaker's list). More bill introductions also make tracking your elected official's work more difficult. Some states, including Arizona, California, New Jersey, Colorado, North Carolina, Florida, North Dakota, Indiana, Louisiana and Montana have sought to restrict how many bills a legislator can introduce each session. Do all states need a rule that limits a lawmaker's appetite for more and more legislation? Maybe. But we'd rather see a self-imposed diet. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Idaho Medicaid to be privately managed in 2029, health officials officials expect
The state flags hangs from the rotunda of the Idaho State Capitol Building in Boise on Jan. 7, 2025. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Idaho health officials say it'll take years to switch all Idaho Medicaid benefits to being managed by private companies. Through a sweeping bill meant to cut Medicaid costs, the Idaho Legislature this year directed the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to change a range of Medicaid policies — including to pursue switching Medicaid benefits to being run by private companies. That model, called managed care, is used widely across the country. Right now, Idaho Medicaid already uses managed care — somewhat. But it's more of a patchwork approach, where some services are managed by the state health department, some by managed care organizations, and some by doctors' offices. Shifting Idaho Medicaid to managed care will take time to do well, Idaho Medicaid Deputy Director Juliet Charron told a panel of state lawmakers late last month. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare expects the new comprehensive Idaho Medicaid managed care contract to start in 2029, following years of prep work, she told the Idaho Legislature's Medicaid Review Panel on May 22. 'We have been evaluating all of the different scenarios and timelines under which we could implement this — looking at it as early as 2027 or 2028 — and have determined' that going much earlier is risky, Charron said. 'Because you're going to start to have pieces overlapping throughout this. And that will be particularly challenging for our provider communities.' Medicaid is a largely federally funded health care assistance program that covers about 260,000 Idahoans, including low-income earners, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and some older people. Roughly 92,000 Idahoans are enrolled in Medicaid expansion, a voter-approved policy that raised the income eligibility cap. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Idaho governor signs bill to privatize management, add work requirements to Medicaid program The new Idaho Medicaid cost cutting bill also called for Idaho to seek federal approval for Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied adults. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare plans to apply for that by July 2026. The federal spending and tax cut bill being considered by Congress might ease the process for Idaho to seek Medicaid work requirements. Instead of applying for a Medicaid waiver that could temporarily allow for work requirements, Idaho could seek a longer-lasting state plan amendment for Medicaid work requirements — if the federal bill becomes law, Charron said. (The bill would require nationwide Medicaid work requirements years later. After passing the U.S. House, it heads to the Senate, where changes are expected.) Other states' experiences and a federal watchdog report suggest costs for Medicaid work requirements are high, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. Since almost half of Idahoans on Medicaid are already working, some advocates say work requirements are effectively just expensive administrative barriers to access the program. Overall, only 6% of Idaho Medicaid enrollees are in comprehensive managed care — the roughly 27,000 Idahoans dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, Idaho Idaho Medicaid Deputy Administrator Sasha O'Connell told the legislative panel. CONTACT US Idaho's existing Medicaid managed care contracts mostly carve out private management for certain benefits, like mental health, medical transportation and dental. That split makes it complicated for the state to oversee, O'Connell said. 'What this has led to is we have particularly high turnover, I would say, in state agencies. And I think that that happens in Medicaid as well,' she said. The various contracts have put Idaho Medicaid's limited staff in a cycle of 'amending these contracts constantly,' she said, instead of putting the contracts up for a new competitive bid, a process called procurement. 'Because procurement is such a huge lift,' O'Connell said. Idaho is also on track to end doctors' offices managing Medicaid benefits next year, Charron told lawmakers. The new Idaho Medicaid cost cutting bill called for the end of that model, called value-based care, which is unique to Idaho and has existed for a few years. The new Idaho Medicaid managed care contract is likely to become the biggest contract given out by the state of Idaho. Idaho's contract for the company Magellan to run mental health Medicaid benefits is already the state's largest contract, initially pegged at $1.4 billion over four years. Like under Idaho Medicaid's first managed care mental health organization, Idaho Medicaid providers have reported payment delays from Magellan, the Idaho Capital Sun reported. Sen. Kevin Cook, R-Idaho Falls, raised that issue to Idaho health officials. 'You're saying, I'm getting reports back from the (managed care organization), and they're saying, 'Everything is great. All of our providers are happy. They're loving it,'' Cook said. ''That's like asking the fox, … 'How's the hen house?'' Idaho's existing managed care contracts will be phased out for the broader contract to come. Idaho Medicaid mental health contractor hires three state government employees 'Idaho is a very large state. But our health care infrastructure is somewhat limited. And people access health care all over the state. Frequently, we are sending Medicaid participants to different parts of the state, based on the service that they need,' Charron said. The new contract will task three different managed care organizations to run Idaho Medicaid benefits, for a few reasons, she explained, like: Federal requirements for Medicaid enrollees to have choice under managed care; Creating competition between companies to drive efficiencies; and Redundancy, in case a plan terminates. Before Idaho launches the new managed care contract, Idaho has a lot of preparation to do, state health officials say. Like engaging stakeholders, seeking out more information and contracting out for actuarial services, a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM), a new enrollment broker for Medicaid enrollees to pick managed care plans, and Idaho Medicaid's information system. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ID governor joins letter to Trump supporting bill that cuts billions from Medicaid, food assistance
Idaho Gov. Brad Little gives a press conference after delivering his annual State of the State address on Jan. 6, 2025, in the Lincoln Auditorium in the Idaho Capitol. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Idaho Gov. Brad Little is among 20 Republican governors who have sent a letter to President Donald Trump expressing support for his 'big, beautiful' tax and spending bill that's been held up as U.S. House Republicans continue to fight over it. 'As Republican Governors, we stand UNITED in strong support of your One, Big, Beautiful Bill,' the governors wrote in the letter dated Tuesday. 'This landmark piece of legislation embodies your powerful vision to bring about the next great American revival.' They added that the bill 'truly delivers on the bold promises all Republicans made to the American people to restore the security, prosperity, and fiscal sanity for our nation.' CBO analysis shows U.S. House GOP budget measure tilted toward upper-income taxpayers The massive, 1,116-page bill package includes sweeping tax breaks and controversial cuts of more than $600 billion over the next decade from Medicaid, the government health program for low-income individuals and those with disabilities. However, negotiations continue over the bill and it's not yet clear whether it has the support it needs from the U.S. House Republicans' slim majority. Earlier Tuesday, Republicans who have yet to rally behind the bill huddled in Speaker Mike Johnson's office to hash out agreements on Medicaid and other outstanding issues. Johnson said he hopes to pass the legislation this week, though he didn't appear to have the votes as of Tuesday afternoon. Even as the bill remains snagged, Republican governors signaled to the president that he has their support, writing 'after four long years of tremendous hardship under President Joe Biden and (Vice President) Kamala Harris, the American people cannot wait any longer for Congress to enact the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.' 'The American people have witnessed the tireless work undertaken by you and your administration to reverse the disastrous consequences of President Biden's failed and often illegal policies,' the governors' letter says. 'You have demonstrated a commitment to using every ounce of Executive authority available to reinstitute fiscal sanity, fight the deep state, secure our borders, and achieve energy dominance.' Little and other governors also called on Congress to act to 'fully and permanently implement' Trump's 'America First agenda.' 'Thankfully, your One, Big, Beautiful Bill would accomplish this,' their letter continues. 'It would provide you with the resources you need to permanently secure the border, remove barriers needed to truly unleash American energy production, protect Americans by making a once-in-a-lifetime investment in military technology that once seemed like science fiction, give working class families tax cuts worth thousands of dollars each, and ensure your administration has the tools needed to deport illegal alien murders (sic) and rapists.' They concluded their letter saying they agree that Republicans must 'UNIFY around this unprecedented piece of conservative legislation.' They added that 'we cannot miss this chance to save taxpayers $1.6 trillion over the next 10 years.' 'We stand by your side and will support you in any way to ensure this necessary piece of legislation is enacted,' the governors wrote. The 20 governors who signed the letter include: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Idaho Gov. Brad Little Indiana Gov. Mike Braun Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong South Carolina Gov. Henry Dargan McMaster Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon Read the letter here: FINAL-Joint-Governors-Letter-to-President-Trump-on-One-Big-Beautiful-Bill-May-2025-1 Utah News Dispatch, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Utah News Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor McKenzie Romero for questions: info@
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Idaho's children deserve better from our Legislature
The Idaho State Capitol Building in Boise shines in the sunlight on Jan. 7, 2025. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) The 2025 Idaho legislative session may be over, but its impact on our children will last far longer — and not for the better. As the session dragged past its intended adjournment, one thing became painfully clear: Idaho's children were not a priority. Legislators found time to debate flags and push culture war bills into classrooms, but when it came to supporting our youngest citizens — those who will one day inherit this state — they failed. School buildings continue to crumble, special education remains underfunded, and child care providers are forced to operate under weaker safety standards due to legislative rollbacks. Meanwhile, children from undocumented families were denied food assistance, school lunches, and even health care through Medicaid — all because of their parents' immigration status. These policies don't just hurt children — they compromise the future of Idaho. Instead of focusing on real issues, our lawmakers catered to special interests and pushed another round of income tax cuts — our fifth in four years. It's true that everyone likes tax cuts. But we must ask: at what cost? Since 2022, these income tax cuts have drained nearly $1.9 billion from Idaho's budget, with another $948 million lost annually moving forward. That's $2.8 billion in permanent revenue gone by the end of 2025—funds that could have been invested in updating schools, expanding health care, and keeping property taxes in check. This year alone, the Legislature cut $87 million from public education, let a $205 working families tax credit expire, and slashed $15 million from affordable housing while passing yet another tax cut that disproportionately benefits the wealthiest Idahoans. The numbers don't lie: Idaho's wealthiest 1% received an average tax break of over $15,000. The average Idaho family? Just $337. And now, with the expiration of the Child Tax Credit, most families will actually see a tax increase. This is not responsible governance, it's a reckless redistribution of resources upward, leaving working families to bear the burden. At Idaho Children Are Primary, we believe lawmakers should be judged on a simple question: Is this good for kids? That's why we publish our Kids Matter Index (KMI), a non-partisan scorecard tracking legislators' votes on bills affecting children — from school funding and day care licensing to Medicaid and public assistance. This year's results are sobering. Only 25% of legislators scored 80% or higher — a strong pro-child record. That's down from 30% last year and 40% the year before. Meanwhile, 65% of lawmakers scored below 69%. The trend is unmistakable: Idaho's Legislature is prioritizing children less and less each year. And those who did stand up for children? Many were punished at the ballot box. In the 2024 primaries, several legislators with strong KMI scores were replaced by candidates backed by out-of-state money and extreme ideologies. This should alarm every Idahoan. Our children's futures are being shaped not just by what laws pass—but by who we elect to make those laws. So what can we do? First, hold your legislators accountable. Ask them how they voted. Ask why. If their priorities don't align with your values, let them know — and vote accordingly. You can find your legislator at the Idaho State Legislature's 'Who's My Legislator?' tool. Second, engage with your community. Talk to neighbors, attend town halls, and show up to school board meetings. Real change starts locally. Third, pay close attention to the 2026 May primary election. That's when many key decisions are made — often by just a few hundred votes. Use tools like the Kids Matter Index to learn how your lawmakers vote, not just what they say. Idaho's constitution is clear: 'All political power is inherent in the people.' If our representatives won't prioritize kids, it's time we elect ones who will. Idaho's children deserve better. Our families deserve better. And Idaho's future depends on the choices we make today. Let's ensure our lawmakers choose our children — by choosing our lawmakers wisely. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
