Idaho Budget Committee Chairs Defend New State Service Cuts

Republican lawmakers say cuts are necessary to balance the budget amid tax cuts and revenue uncertainty.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The co-chairs of the Idaho Legislature's budget committee, Sen. Scott Grow and Rep. Josh Tanner, held a press conference to defend new across-the-board cuts to state agencies that they say are needed to balance the budget. The cuts come on top of 3% cuts ordered by the governor last summer and are driven by uncertainty over the cost of conforming to federal tax cuts and concerns about state revenues. However, the governor and Democrats oppose the additional cuts, saying they could cripple essential services.

Why it matters

The debate over the budget cuts has become a major point of tension in the Idaho legislature, with the governor, Democrats, and some Republicans opposing the additional reductions. The cuts could have long-term, structural impacts on core state services and programs, raising concerns about the state's ability to maintain critical functions.

The details

JFAC, the legislative budget committee co-chaired by Grow and Tanner, approved an additional 1% and 2% cuts for most state agencies on top of the 3% cuts ordered by the governor last summer. The lawmakers say the new cuts are necessary to balance the budget amid uncertainty over the cost of conforming to federal tax cuts and concerns about state revenues. However, the governor and Democrats have opposed the additional reductions, arguing they could cripple essential services. There are also proposals to avoid the cuts by tapping into the state's rainy day funds, which the committee chairs reject.

  • The 2026 legislative session began on January 12.
  • On February 6, JFAC passed the fiscal year 2026 Budget Rescission Act, which includes 4% cuts for most state agencies.
  • On February 13, JFAC passed maintenance of operations budgets that include 5% cuts for most state agencies in fiscal year 2027.

The players

Sen. Scott Grow

Republican co-chair of the Idaho Legislature's Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.

Rep. Josh Tanner

Republican co-chair of the Idaho Legislature's Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.

Gov. Brad Little

The Republican governor of Idaho who opposed the additional budget cuts.

Lori Wolff

Idaho's budget chief, who has warned against cutting too deeply and quickly.

Idaho Democrats

The minority party in the legislature, who oppose the additional budget cuts and have proposed using rainy day funds instead.

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What they’re saying

“Our goal is to have ongoing revenue match ongoing expenses. When you start dealing with one-time (fixes and transfers), then we put ourselves in jeopardy.”

— Sen. Scott Grow, Republican co-chair of the Idaho Legislature's Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (Idaho Capital Sun)

“Bringing government under control is some of the hardest jobs to do.”

— Rep. Josh Tanner, Republican co-chair of the Idaho Legislature's Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (Idaho Capital Sun)

“Cuts could cripple essential services and take years to grow out of in a healthy economy.”

— Lori Wolff, Idaho's budget chief (Idaho Capital Sun)

What’s next

The fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027 cuts approved by JFAC will next go to the full Idaho House of Representatives and Idaho Senate for a vote, though the timing is still being negotiated.

The takeaway

The debate over budget cuts in Idaho has become a major point of contention, with the Republican-controlled legislature pushing for additional reductions that the governor and Democrats oppose. The cuts could have long-term impacts on essential state services, raising concerns about the state's ability to maintain critical functions.