Idaho's FY2013-2014 Budget

Governor “Butch” Otter introduced the 2014 Idaho budget earlier this year, which will see a nearly $300 million increase from FY 2013. Of the $162 million in increased state revenues, nearly half will be transferred to the Budget Stabilization Fund, which will rebid the state’s savings accounts depleted during the recession. Figure 1 below shows total state spending starting in FY 2010.

Medical Assistance Services saw an increase of $77 million to a total FY 2014 budget of $2 billion. Health and human services spending for the state comprises 39.3 percent of the total state budget, with education spending following at 35.2 percent. The Department of Labor saw a $66 million increase, and Public School Support rounded out the top three with an increase of $57 million. Very few departments saw decreases in spending from FY 2013-2014, with the highest drop of $37 million in the Idaho Transportation Department.

The total IT spending for the state decreased by approximately $9 million in FY 2014, bringing total spending to $72.9 million. Some notable projects in the budget included $1.6 million for a benefit and tax system upgrade in the Department of Labor; $5.2 million for a GenTax upgrade for the Department of Revenue and Taxation; $1.7 million for Phase III interoperable communications for the Idaho State Police; and nearly $21 million for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program.

Despite tough times that followed the economic recession, Idaho has rebounded with increased revenues that are being used to restart its savings program for the long haul. Vendors working in the education and health and human services space should check out Deltek’s analysis on Idaho’s budget here, and brush up on the Deltek’s state profile application. For a free trial, please click here.