JFAC approves $177.4 million CEC package, sets $1.55/hour minimum and targeted boosts for troopers, IT and health workers

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee voted Thursday to add $177,429,100 in pay‑related funding to the maintenance bills, approving a package that directs pay increases between $1.05 and $1.55 per hour for state workers and includes targeted adjustments for specific employee groups.

Representative Tammy Miller moved the package, which the committee described as conforming language to satisfy several sections of Idaho code that require legislative action on salary schedule changes. The motion included a $1.55‑per‑hour minimum market adjustment for state agency and institution full‑time equivalent positions, a 5% or equivalent allocation for community colleges, a 4.5% adjustment for classified and nonclassified IT and engineering staff, up to an 8% total increase for Idaho State Police troopers, and a targeted increase for nursing and health care…