BOISE, Idaho – Concerns have emerged about several Idaho state agencies spending salaries for vacant positions.
The State Budget and Policy Analysis Division is unable to determine where these funds are going.
This issue is drawing attention from members of the Idaho Department of Government Efficiency Task Force as lawmakers explore ways to reduce the budget.
This development comes shortly after the state announced an $80 million budget deficit.
Data collected over five years highlights agencies that spent more and less than 90 percent of their personnel budgets.
However, the data may be skewed by agency size and complexity, according to Keith Bybee, manager of the Budget and Policy Analysis Division.
“There is at least a task agreement that somehow those vacant positions, or those vacant salaries are being used for something different or maybe inappropriate,” Bybee said at an Idaho DOGE task force meeting Monday.
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor averaged around 68 percent of filled full-time positions but spent 85 percent of its allotted personnel salaries. It’s important to note that the Lieutenant Governor’s office has a smaller staff in comparison to other state agencies.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor filled 72 percent of its full-time roles and spent 74 percent of its appropriations.
A central question arises: who oversees government spending on personnel?
The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC) plays a vital role in aligning expenditures with the budget set by the legislature.
“That has been part of the JFAC process and their DNA for probably the last ten years – is to look at how closely aligned their expenditures are to the budget, as set by the legislature,” said Bybee.
Many agencies have spent less than their appropriated amounts.
The Idaho Department of Government Efficiency will review its findings and report back to the legislature with recommendations in January.
Governor Brad Little is encouraging all state agencies to cut spending by 3 percent to account for the $80 million budget deficit.
