BOISE, Idaho — Editor's note: The video posted above is an interview with Dr. David Pate, former St. Luke's Health System CEO and a member of the governor's Coronavirus Task Force.
Governor Brad Little is forming a new committee to oversee about $1.25 billion in federal funds that Idaho will receive to fight the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
The governor signed an executive order Tuesday afternoon, establishing the Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee.
The office of State Controller Brandon Woolf will report the use of funds on the Transparent Idaho website, so anyone can go online and see how the federal funds are used.
In a statement sent out Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Little said that "the federal funds will not be used to create new government programs in Idaho, and we will uphold our Constitutional mandate to provide a long-term, structurally balanced budget for the people of Idaho."
The committee will make recommendations to ensure the federal funds are appropriately prioritized and efficiently distributed across state, local and tribal governments. The funds are expected to be available on or around April 24.
Idaho COVID-19 latest: Latest news | Map of confirmed Idaho cases | Stay-at-home order details | COVID-19 resources | Testing sites | Employers hiring | Essential business list | Closings | School closings | Help nonprofits| Golf info | Full COVID-19 coverage
Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee members include:
- Alex Adams, Administrator, Division of Financial Management (Chair)
- Senator Steve Bair, Co-chair, Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee
- Representative Rick Youngblood, Co-chair, Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee
- Josh Whitworth, Chief of Staff, Office of the State Controller
- Jani Revier, Director, Idaho Department of Labor
- Tom Kealey, Director, Idaho Department of Commerce
- Shawn Keough, State Board of Education member
- Lisa Hettinger, Deputy Director, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
- Garden City Mayor John Evans, city government representative
- Seth Grigg, Executive Director, Idaho Association of Counties, county government representative
- Chantel Greene, Nez Perce Tribe, tribal government representative
- Dennis Johnson, large business representative
- Matt Newton, small/midsize business representative
- Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, Intergovernmental Affairs Director, Office of the Governor
RELATED: Official says Idaho learned from the 2008 Recession on how to handle waves of people needing help
Facts not fear: More on coronavirus
See our latest updates in our YouTube playlist:
At KTVB, we’re focusing our news coverage on the facts and not the fear around the virus. To see our full coverage, visit our coronavirus section, here: www.ktvb.com/coronavirus.