Joint finance committee approves $177.4 million package to raise minimum staff pay, adds targeted increases for troopers, IT and healthcare workers

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted Feb. 6 to add $177,429,100 in compensation adjustments to the budgets maintained by the committee, directing state agencies to provide employee pay increases between $1.05 and $1.55 per hour and adding targeted schedule adjustments for specific job classes.

The motion, offered by Representative Miller and seconded by Senator Groves, directs fiscal year 2026 funding of $84,411,100 to provide $1.55 per hour for permanent state employees, an additional $2,305,700 for community colleges, $6,042,800 for salary-schedule adjustments for employees at the minimum of their pay grade, and other targeted funding. It also includes $84,669,500 for public schools and the Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind. The committee reported a total of $128,350,490 from the general fund, $34,266,900 from dedicated funds, and $14,807,300 from federal funds toward the total package.

Why it matters: the language directs agencies…