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Forestry agency credits prior pay increases for improved hiring, requests flat budget with salary authority to finish pay plan
Summary
The state forestry agency told the Appropriations Subcommittee its FY26 request is largely flat; it seeks additional salary authority to complete a personnel plan approved by the State Personnel Board after drought-driven beetle damage and higher wildfire risk increased demand for foresters and firefighters.
A forestry agency official told the Appropriations Subcommittee the agency’s fiscal 2026 request seeks to maintain current general and special fund levels while carrying additional salary authority to complete a multi-year personnel plan approved last year.
The official said the 2023 drought produced a surge in southern pine beetle damage and higher fuel loads, increasing landowner requests for assistance and putting pressure on forest health and wildfire response workloads. The official told the committee that the wildland firefighter pay increases approved previously by the State Personnel Board “has gone a long way to helping us get quality applicants” and that ranger, technician and forester hiring has improved as a result.
The agency said region 4 (the southern region) was hit hardest by beetle damage and had experienced recruitment difficulty; the agency reported that it recently hired additional registered foresters and was “50% full on foresters” in the southern region with more recruits expected before the end of the fiscal year.
On equipment, the official said the agency follows a recommended rotation schedule for heavy equipment and plans to replace dozers on a 12-unit purchase cycle (12 every other year) to obtain better pricing. Travel, contractual services and commodities budgets were described as generally stable. The agency also noted bond-payment obligations in its titling program and said bond payments are handled within the appropriation process.
Committee members requested clearer, position-level SPB documentation for any progression requests; the agency said classifications and many salary adjustments were implemented last year as part of the state personnel board plan and that the current request constitutes the second phase of that plan.
Ending: The committee did not take a formal vote during the hearing. Members asked for additional documentation on classification and position-level adjustments to accompany the SPB sheet.
