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Agriculture requests funding for quagga mussel response, investigator pay and equipment replacements
Summary
The Idaho Department of Agriculture told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee it needs one-time and ongoing funding for quagga mussel response, to create a pay structure for agricultural investigators, and to replace vehicles and IT hardware.
Frances Lippett, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee the Department of Agriculture seeks both one-time and ongoing funding for invasive species response and staff retention.
The request centers on funding for quagga mussel detection and response and personnel costs for the department’s investigative and inspection workforce. "The department guarantees the quality of agricultural products and ensures they comply with state and federal law," Lippett said, summarizing the agency’s statutory responsibilities.
The nut graf: the department asked for a mix of general fund and dedicated-fund spending to respond to a recent increase in invasive-species work while also proposing pay and staffing changes intended to reduce turnover and sustain inspections.
Lippett reviewed the department’s budget structure and…
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