COEUR d’ALENE — Gov. Brad Little said Wednesday that public education and the Idaho LAUNCH program should be protected from budget cuts, even as lawmakers confront what he called “tough decisions” during this year’s legislative session.

“Believe me, I’m not going to blink on this one,” he said.

K-12 public education and the LAUNCH program were focal points as Little laid out his “Enduring Idaho” plan before about 500 people at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

He described the plan as one of “belt tightening and persistence,” calling on state agencies to reduce spending by 3%.

Education and the LAUNCH program were both exempt from these cuts in the budget submission. Online schooling, however, will likely see cuts.

“(Education) is a highest priority,” Little said during the Coeur d'Alene Regional Chamber luncheon.

Idaho LAUNCH provides Idaho residents with one-time grants of up to $8,000 for postsecondary education and workforce training. Community colleges statewide have reported enrollment increases of up to 28% since the program began in 2023.

From a business perspective, Little said this keeps more money circulating within the state’s economy as residents have more opportunities to stay in Idaho to pursue careers.

“(The program) has changed Idaho,” Little said.

Little also fielded questions about healthcare, particularly in rural areas. Nearly $1 billion for the state’s rural healthcare systems is coming down the pipeline over the next five years, he said.

He cautioned, however, that investments must prioritize long-term sustainability.

“Otherwise, we will have hit a cliff in four years,” he said.

Little also disclosed that there have been talks at the legislative level about “dialing back” funding for medical education.

“If that budget proposal goes through, we’re going to have fewer (medical) residents in Idaho,” he said.

Idaho has the fewest doctors per capita of all 50 states, falling short in availability of primary care physicians and specialists.

Idaho LAUNCH supports a range of medical professions, including nurses, but physician training programs like Idaho WWAMI face challenges.

Idaho WWAMI is a longstanding partnership between the University of Washington School of Medicine and the states of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.

He said WWAMI "is one program that may be on the chopping block — maybe as soon as tomorrow."

Funds for rural healthcare will have to be used “creatively” in order to make rural hospitals attractive to medical residents, he added.

“We desperately need more doctors,” he said.  

    Gov. Brad Little smiles with a group of area high school students in attendance at his address at The Coeur d'Alene Resort on Wednesday.