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JFAC approves $1.68 million ongoing for community college enrollment adjustments; directs outcome‑based funding proposal by year end
Summary
The joint finance committee added $1,679,800 ongoing general fund for enrollment workload adjustments across Idaho community colleges, held North Idaho College harmless, and directed the State Board of Education to return an outcome‑based funding proposal by Dec. 31, 2025.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on March 7 approved an additional $1,679,800 in ongoing general fund support for Idaho’s community colleges to cover enrollment workload adjustments, and directed the State Board of Education to develop and return an outcome‑based funding model by Dec. 31, 2025.
The motion—moved by Representative Pesky and seconded by Senator Ward Engelking—allocated $496,800 ongoing to the College of Eastern Idaho, $690,000 ongoing to the College of Southern Idaho and $493,000 ongoing to the College of Western Idaho. The motion stated North Idaho College would be held harmless from a negative enrollment workload adjustment.
Representative Pesky explained the committee deliberately did not hold colleges to the 3% cap on workload adjustments so that institutions would receive the full adjustment for earned enrollment. He told the committee the change was intended to help community colleges address wait lists and capacity constraints, especially in CTE programs.
The committee also accepted, by unanimous consent, language directing the Office of the State Board of Education to develop an outcome‑based funding model and to return a proposal to JFAC for input by Dec. 31, 2025, with implementation scheduled by FY 2028.
Roll call recorded 19 ayes and 1 nay (combined on the joint committee), and the motion carried with a due‑pass recommendation to the floors of the two chambers.
The appropriation change is a program maintenance supplement to FY 2026 JFAC budgets and reflects the legislature’s immediate step to address enrollment‑driven costs at the colleges while the committee pursues longer‑term funding formula reform.
