After 'tight' budget year, state ends fiscal year with positive cash balance + Private education tax credit hits limit, applications close

By Christina Lords | Editor-in-Chief

“A strong economy is built on fiscal discipline. We acted quickly to align spending with the best information available. Some decisions were not easy, but they were the right ones.” — Idaho Gov. Brad Little, on the state budget

The exterior of the Idaho Statehouse as seen on March 16, 2026, in Boise. (Photo by Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

GOVERNMENT + POLITICS

After ‘tight budget year,’ Idaho ends fiscal year with positive cash balance

By Clark Corbin and Kyle Pfannenstiel

Idaho ended the 2026 fiscal year this summer with a positive ending cash balance that allows the state to transfer about $250 million into next year’s fiscal year 2027 state budget, Gov. Brad Little’s office announced Friday.

Enacted last year through House Bill 93, the tax credit program offers private and religious school students up to $5,000 — or $7,500 if they have special needs — in refundable tax credits covering education expenses. (Photo illustration by Getty Images)

EDUCATION

Idaho’s private education tax credit reaches annual cap, applications close

By Ryan Suppe

As of Tuesday, the Tax Commission had received 7,019 applications covering 12,497 students. There’s no limit on how many students a household can claim for refundable credits.

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ICYMI: OUR TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK

Idaho’s transgender bathroom ban is now the law. How will police enforce it? That’s still unclear. | Kyle Pfannenstiel
‘Stop threatening your friends’: Idaho Attorney General’s Office lawyer blasts Justice Department | Kyle Pfannenstiel
As Boise pushes for new passenger rail study, could the state catch on? | Valentin Termite
Initiative to end Idaho’s strict abortion ban qualifies for November’s general election ballot | Laura Guido and Clark Corbin
Medical cannabis initiative fails to qualify for Idaho’s general election ballot | Clark Corbin
Idaho committee keeps governor housing stipend flat. But what about building a mansion? | Kyle Pfannenstiel
Idaho U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher seeks input on federal land management in survey | Laura Guido

ICYMI

Shining a light on other Idaho politics reporting

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