Legislative committee accepts CEC recommendations: targeted pay changes, trooper pay increase urged

The Joint Finance Appropriations Committee accepted the Change in Employee Compensation Committee (CEC) report, which recommends targeted salary schedule adjustments for fiscal 2026 and related benefit assumptions.

Senator Dan Foreman, CEC co-chair, presented the committee’s recommendations, saying the panel “recommend[s] shifting the primary compensation schedule upwards by an average of 3.2% as recommended by the division of human resources” while preserving a minimum wage floor in pay grade D at $7.25 per hour. Foreman outlined specialized schedule adjustments: 3.2% for public safety, 3% for IT and engineering, and 3.5% for nursing and health care.

On salary increases, the CEC recommended the legislature fund a $1.55-per-hour increase per full-time position (FTP) for state employees, with flexibility for agency heads and institution presidents to allocate funds. For Idaho State Police troopers (pay grade L), the committee recommended funding up to an 8% increase to address recruitment and retention pressures. Foreman described the trooper recommendation as driven by staffing shortages: “In my district, ISP District 2 ... they’re already at 50% manning in terms of troopers,” he said, adding low wages — not morale or working conditions — were the major cause of departures.

The committee also recommended a 4.5% targeted increase for IT and engineering salary schedules and specified that nursing and health-care positions receive either the $1.55-per-hour increase or 3%, whichever is greater. Appropriation guidance included increasing the appropriation level per FTP from "13,000 to 13,960" for fiscal 2026 (as stated in the CEC presentation).

Senator Ward Engelking raised concerns about the recommended caps, noting state employees making about $64,000 would not receive a 5% raise and warning of high turnover: she cited a 19% vacancy/turnover figure and said state pay was roughly 25% below market in some areas. Representative James Holsclaw (District 20) spoke in support of staff and the committee’s balance between fiscal stewardship and compensating employees.

Co-chair Horman asked unanimous consent to accept the CEC report; the request was seconded and approved without objection.

Ending: The accepted CEC recommendations will be available to JFAC as it considers program maintenance and enhancement budgets; lawmakers flagged the trooper pay issue and employee retention as items to watch during appropriations debate.