Idaho state agencies with impacts on natural resources have submitted their preliminary Fiscal 2021 budget requests.
The largest sought increase – 7.1 percent – was brought by the Department of Lands, with a total budget request of $64.5 million. The agency plans to spend more on forest resources management, and forest and range fire protection, while additional dedicated funds would support forest resource management on endowment lands, and increase Good Neighbor Authority management on forest and rangeland.
Meanwhile, the Idaho Department of Agriculture has crafted a $48.6 million budget, up 6.3 percent from a year ago. The agency is budgeting for a previously planned $2 million in dedicated revenue from department fees for services such as livestock disease testing. The money will go toward a $10 million pathology lab focused on livestock, the cost of which was provided by the 2019 Legislature. The department in 2021 also expects more revenue from some fees.
Flat budgets, with total spending approximating year-earlier levels, are proposed by the Department of Water Resources and the University of Idaho Agricultural Research and Extension system, which plans a lower capital outlay.
In proposing a small decrease in its total budget, the Department of Environmental Quality expects to spend more on water quality and less on air quality.
The Department of Fish and Game, which is largely license-funded and does not receive General Fund revenue, plans reduced spending on wildlife mitigation and habitat conservation, and a lower capital outlay. It’s budget request is down 3 percent to $124 million.
Agencies have through October 25th to submit revisions for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. (Capital Press)
