Change in Employee Compensation Committee approves salary and benefit recommendations, sends package to JFAC

Change in Employee Compensation Committee Chairman Foreman said the committee approved a bundle of statewide and targeted pay recommendations on motions forwarded to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC), including a $1.55-per-hour-per-FTP baseline adjustment and separate market or percent-based boosts for troopers, nurses and IT staff.

The committee’s recommendations matter because they set policy direction the JFAC will use when deciding whether and how to fund pay and benefit changes. Committee members debated how a $1.55-per-hour-per-FTP baseline interacts with prior proposals framed as percentage increases and requested fiscal estimates before final votes.

Representative Raybould moved the committee’s initial, broad recommendation: for fiscal year 2026 fund a salary increase equal to $1.55 per hour per full-time position (per FTP) for state employees, a motion seconded by Senator Cook and carried by a roll call vote (8–3). Chairman Foreman was among the three recorded nays. Several members questioned where that dollar figure intersected with earlier percentage-focused proposals and what salary levels would see the largest percentage gains under the dollar approach.

The committee approved a separate, targeted recommendation for Idaho State Police troopers. Senator Ward Engelking moved that trooper pay be funded to meet but not exceed 8% total for FY2026, with agency flexibility to allocate funds for retention and recruitment; the motion passed by unanimous roll call (10–0). Committee discussion identified recruitment and retention challenges, especially in Northern Idaho; Chairman Foreman described the shortfall as a public-safety concern and urged the increase as necessary to sustain staffing.

Nursing and health-care positions were the subject of extended debate and several competing motions. Representative Raybould initially moved an increase “not to exceed 3%” for nursing/healthcare positions; Senator Ward Engelking offered a substitute to meet but not exceed 8% total. Committee members raised repeated questions about whether percentage-language in motions referred to total increases or incremental additions on top of the $1.55-per-hour baseline and asked staff for fiscal estimates. After amendments and an amended substitute, the committee approved a motion that caps nursing and health-care compensation at $1.55 per hour per FTP or 3%, whichever is greater (the effect being to guarantee the dollar baseline for lower-paid workers while letting a 3% rule apply above a certain salary); that motion passed 7–3. Staff supplied the fiscal estimates used in debate: the $1.55-per-hour cost for nursing/healthcare was estimated at about $2.7 million; a standalone 3% CEC for that group was estimated at about $1.8 million; the 8% alternative estimate (after accounting for the $1.55 baseline) was roughly $2.19 million.

The committee also approved a package of schedule adjustments that apply across pay lines and to specialized schedules. Members voted to shift primary compensation schedule midpoints upward by an average of 3.2% for all pay grades (with pay grade D minimum remaining at $7.25 per hour) and to adopt specialized schedule midpoint adjustments averaging 3.2% for public safety, 3% for IT and engineering, and 3.5% for nursing/healthcare. Each of those motions carried on unanimous roll call votes (10–0). Separately, the committee approved an additional 4.5% market-based increase specifically for positions on the IT/engineering salary schedule (10–0).

On classification and benefits, the committee voted unanimously to maintain current job classifications with existing pay-line exceptions as recommended in the Division of Human Resources FY2026 report, and to maintain the current employee benefit package for FY2026 while increasing the health-insurance appropriation to $13,960 per FTP; both motions passed 10–0.

Committee members repeatedly asked staff for fiscal clarity during debate. Miss Lippert, identified as committee staff, summarized the staff calculations and cautioned that the committee’s role is to set policy recommendations and that the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee will determine final funding. She told the committee, “The governor’s recommendation is for either the 5% or the dollar 1.55 per hour per FTP across the board,” and provided the committee’s fiscal estimates for the competing nursing motions when the meeting resumed after a short recess.

Votes at a glance: • $1.55/hour per FTP baseline for state employees (Rep. Raybould): PASSED (ayes 8, nays 3). Recorded nays included Chairman Foreman, Senator Ward Engelking and Representative Gannon. • Idaho State Police trooper pay — fund up to 8% total (Sen. Ward Engelking): PASSED (ayes 10, nays 0). • Nursing/health-care positions — final approved language: $1.55 per hour per FTP or 3%, whichever is greater: PASSED (ayes 7, nays 3). • Primary compensation schedule midpoint shift (avg. 3.2%; pay grade D min stay $7.25): PASSED (ayes 10, nays 0). • Specialized schedule midpoint shifts (public safety 3.2%; IT/engineering 3%; nursing/healthcare 3.5%): PASSED (ayes 10, nays 0). • IT/engineering market-based increase (4.5%): PASSED (ayes 10, nays 0). • Maintain job classifications with existing pay-line exceptions (per Division of Human Resources report): PASSED (ayes 10, nays 0). • Maintain benefits package; increase health‑insurance appropriation to $13,960 per FTP: PASSED (ayes 10, nays 0).

Committee decisions are recommendations to JFAC and do not themselves appropriate funds. Several members asked that fiscal impacts be clarified before JFAC action; the committee paused during the meeting so staff could compute estimates and returned to complete the votes. The committee adjourned after the package was approved and transmitted to JFAC.