JFAC approves community college increases, debates $2.5M library digital‑access grant; multiple budget motions advance

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee (JFAC) on March 7 approved several budget motions affecting Idaho community colleges, corrections and commerce programs, and debated but did not pass a proposed $2.5 million "Digital Access for All Idahoans" grant for public libraries.

Community colleges

JFAC approved additional FY2026 general‑fund enrollment workload adjustments for Idaho’s community colleges. Representative Pesky moved, and Senator Ward Engleking seconded, an amendment to add $496,800 ongoing for the College of Eastern Idaho, $690,000 ongoing for the College of Southern Idaho, and $493,000 ongoing for the College of Western Idaho — a combined $1,679,800 from the general fund. The motion passed on a roll call of 19 ayes, 1 nay (Senate 9–1; House 10–0). Committee language accompanying the motion directs the State Board of Education to develop an outcome‑based funding model and return a proposal to JFAC by Dec. 31, 2025, with an implementation target of FY2028.

Senators and representatives framed the vote as an effort to relieve wait lists at community colleges and to avoid penalizing North Idaho College for a "backwards‑looking" enrollment workload adjustment formula. "We didn't want to hold them to that 3% cap; we wanted to give them the full benefit that they earned for their enrollment workload adjustment," Representative Pesky said during the motion’s explanation.

Libraries and the digital‑access grant debate

A mot…