Derek Santos served as a public sector economist for nearly 40 years. He began his career with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission in 1984. In 1987 he moved to the Idaho Division of Financial Management ‘s Economic Analysis Bureau. His initial responsibilities there included preparing the state’s economic forecasts. Over time his role expanded to include forecasting and monitoring Idaho’s general fund revenue. He also prepared the annual Tax Expenditure Budget Report that cataloged the state’s income tax deductions, exclusions, credits, and sales tax exemptions. The fiscal impacts for these items were estimated and included in the report. In 2011, he became the Bureau’s Chief Economist, and he remained in that role until he retired in January 2021.