Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little commented today on the Joint Finance and Appropriation Committee’s action to advance his recommendation for another $300 million to address the known deferred maintenance deficit for state owned buildings and facilities.

“Deferred maintenance may sound boring but clearing out our backlog of needed repairs is a fundamental part of our responsibility as elected leaders.

“Think about your own household budget. You don’t want to put off repairs too long because it will only cost you more to replace later on. As my predecessor Governor Butch Otter used to say, ‘Deferred maintenance is deficit spending!’ Tackling the deferred maintenance deficit means we’re fixing leaky roofs, repairing worn out HVAC systems, updating boiler rooms, and addressing other needed improvements in our state building infrastructure.

“This is good government in action, and I appreciate my partners in the Legislature for their support. Conservative budgeting strengthens our state, and we’re providing an example for Washington, D.C., and other states to follow!” Governor Little said.

The Governor’s Executive Order 2021-10 directed the Idaho Department of Administration in 2021 to write a report on known state deferred maintenance needs. The report identified $900 million in known needed repairs. Last year, the Governor and Legislature approved $250 million for deferred maintenance, and the additional $300 million on track for legislative approval this year means Idaho will clear out more than 60-percent of the $900 million price tag in just two years.