The Idaho State Capitol is reflected in the Joe R. Williams building on March 21, 2021. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun)

To comply with Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s directive to permanently extend 3% budget cuts, state agencies are planning to cut $88.7 million next fiscal year.

As part of those extended cuts for fiscal year 2027, Idaho plans to extend 4% for another year. The Idaho Department of Correction also plans to cut costs to house prisoners — including for contracted medical providers or reducing drug testing for inmates.

“The governor was pretty intentional about giving agencies the flexibility to decide where we could best find those holdbacks from spending and expenditures,” Little’s budget chief, Lori Wolff, told the Idaho Capital Sun in an interview.

The governor ex

See Full Page