Idaho Budget

Idaho Budget

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
On January 10th Governor Brad Little gave his State of the State address to the Idaho Legislature. One of the highlights was his announcement of a record $1.9 billion budget surplus.

Along with his plans for income tax relief and increases in education funding, the Governor’s budget also proposes investments in state water infrastructure projects for agriculture and natural resources to ensure a dependable water supply ($75 million from the General Fund and $250 million from the American Plan Rescue Act or ARPA). The Department of Water Resources will manage these funds for projects like raising the Anderson Ranch dam, water recharge infrastructure on the Upper Snake River Plain, and replacing aging infrastructure for irrigation districts and canals.

That’s welcome news for people like Representative Clark Kauffman, Chairman of the House Agricultural Affairs Committee.

“There’s money available for infrastructure and the one where I’m mostly interested in is the water projects,” said Kauffman.

Projects like new water infrastructure in the Bellevue Triangle, improving the irrigation system in the Clover area of the Magic Valley, and updating the New York Canal in the Treasure Valley.

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