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Idaho parks seek consolidation, higher seasonal pay and targeted ranger raises in 2026 budget request
Summary
The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee it wants to merge two budget programs, raise seasonal pay from $12 to $15 per hour, address pay compression for rangers and managers, and advance capital projects including marina and recreation-area work funded largely by dedicated and federal dollars.
The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Thursday that it plans to consolidate its management-services and park-operations programs, raise seasonal pay and add targeted ranger pay increases as part of its fiscal 2026 request.
Janet Jessup, a budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, told committee members the department administers 30 state parks and trail systems and is currently allocated 190.8 full-time positions. She said the department’s budget combines general, dedicated and federal funds and that capital projects make up a large share of recent spending — roughly 41% of the department’s 2024 expenditures were in capital outlay.
Jessup said the agency asked that management services and park operations be merged into a single program “to make it easier for us to manage across the system” and noted the governor’s recommendation included the agency’s full capital requests.
Director Susan Buxton said the department’s pay requests aim to…
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