Idaho parks department seeks program consolidation, seasonal pay increases and capital funding

The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation told the Joint Finance Committee it wants to merge its management services and park operations programs, raise seasonal wages and address pay compression for rangers while pressing for capital funds for deferred maintenance and marina replacement.

Janet Jessup, a budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, told the committee the department is allocated 190.8 full‑time positions for the 2024 fiscal year and operates 30 state parks and trail systems. She said the agency’s budget mixes general, dedicated and federal funds and that many dedicated funds are statutorily restricted to particular uses.

Director Susan Buxton of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation said the program consolidation would combine management services and park operations into a single budgeted program to simplify administration. "It really is a ministerial request," Buxton said, adding the change “would be a lot easier for us to manage across the system” and, she said, would not cause a loss of information about…