Idaho's budget picture not so bad after all
For weeks, Idahoans have heard warnings about a tightening state budget: slowing revenues, shrinking margins, and the need for Gov. Brad Little’s proposed spending cuts. But as lawmakers dig deeper into the numbers, a clearer picture is emerging: Idaho’s fiscal outlook is stronger than the early-session alarm suggested, and deep cuts may not be necessary.
This week, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee unanimously adopted more optimistic revenue projections from the Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee. The predictions — $5.7 billion for this year and $5.9 billion for next — are 2.8% higher for FY 2026 and 2.4% higher for FY 2027 than those used in the governor’s budget. Those small percentages translate to big dollars: an additional $152.5 million this year and $137.4 million next year.
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