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How Idaho’s Lava Hot Springs Public Recreation Area Disappeared. By Fred Birnbaum (05/28/25)
Using Idaho’s Lava Hot Springs as an example, Idaho Freedom Foundation’s Fred Birnbaum explains how continuous appropriations cause Idaho expenditures to disappear from the books, making these large and growing taxpayer outlays invisible and unaccountable.
One reason not given for continuous appropriations is shielding spending from public view.
Whether or not this is the intent, it is the outcome. And it is the primary reason that state Dedicated Fund spending shows a 14.6% decrease from FY25 to FY26.
It didn’t actually decrease by that amount, why? Because funds were moved off the books and not included in the totals! — Fred Birnbaum
SUMMARY (Grok ai, with edits; image from article)
Overview
During a recent Spring Interim Meeting, Idaho’s Joint-Finance Appropriation Committee (JFAC) reviewed continuous appropriations, which are off-budget funds perpetually expended without annual legislative review.
One example: The Lava Hot Springs Foundation’s budget, classified as a continuous appropriation since Senate Bill 1123 in 2021, is not included in the Legislative Budget Book, obscuring its spending from oversight.
While “saving” $1,000 in administrative costs, the Foundation’s spending rose 55% from $2.33 million in FY21 to $3.60 million in FY24.
Continuous appropriations, totaling $2.94 billion in FY24, account for over 20% of Idaho’s actual expenditures, many of which do not align with stated justifications like multi-year projects or emergencies.
Such appropriations raise significant concerns about transparency and potential shielding of spending from public view.
Key Points
Continuous Appropriations Overview
Funds not subject to annual appropriation or JFAC review.
Not included in Legislative Budget Book.
Perpetually expended unless Legislature acts.
Lava Hot Springs Case
Operating budget classified as continuous appropriation via Senate Bill 1123 (2021, sponsor Rep. Kevin Andrus, linked below):
No longer requires an annual appropriation bill.
FY21 spending: $2,327,400; FY24 spending: $3,597,509 (55% increase).
$1,000 saved in administrative costs, but $1.27 million spending increase.
JFAC Review Findings
Continuous appropriations in FY24: $2.94 billion, over 20% of total $12.33 billion expenditures.
Typical justifications for continuous appropriations:
Multi-year projects (e.g., Permanent Building Fund).
Emergency responses (e.g., Disaster Emergency Fund).
Eligible payments (e.g., Special Benefit Payment Fund).
Lava Hot Springs and many other expenditures do not fit these justifications.
Transparency Concerns
Continuous appropriations obscure spending from public and legislative oversight.
FY25 to FY26 Dedicated Fund spending shows 14.6% decrease, likely due to funds being moved off-budget.
Shielding spending from public view is an outcome of continuous appropriations, whether or not intended.
