Senate Finance committee votes to print bill raising three commissioners’ salaries

The Idaho Senate Finance Committee voted by unanimous consent to print routing slip RS 32564, a bill that would increase statutory salaries for three state commissioners: the Public Utilities Commission, the State Tax Commission and the Industrial Commission.

Committee members heard a summary of the proposal from Keith Bybee, division manager of budget policy analysis, who said the bill would amend Idaho Code to increase each commissioner's salary by $1.55 per hour (as described in the statement of purpose provided to the committee). Bybee read the proposed salary figures in the bill: the Public Utilities Commission chair would increase from $126,424 to $129,648; the State Tax Commissioner from $117,396 to $120,620; and the Industrial Commissioner from $123,126 to $126,350.

Bybee told the committee that this is a policy action distinct from the joint budget process and that, if the bill is printed and later approved by the full Senate, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) would return later to consider funding. "This is a meeting of Senate Finance as a policy making committee rather than just the budget setting committee," Bybee said, explaining the two-step process for policy bills that have budget implications.

Vice Chair Woodward moved to print the routing slip. Senator Carlson seconded the motion. The committee ultimately withdrew the roll-call route and approved printing by unanimous consent with no objections, allowing the routing slip to be printed and sent forward for the regular Senate process.

The committee also clarified that these three sets of commissioners are treated separately in statute and are therefore not included in the broader classified employee compensation adjustments (CEC) that were discussed earlier in the session. As Bybee explained, "these are outside of statute. So when we do CEC, it does not include these. The statute requires a separate treatment for these, and that's why you have this as an RS."

No public testimony or further debate on substantive policy implications was recorded during the committee action. The printing of the routing slip is a procedural step that allows the bill text to be drafted and brought back for a formal hearing or introduction on the Senate floor.

Further consideration, including any appropriation to pay the increased salaries, would follow the standard legislative path if the bill is introduced and receives a favorable recommendation from Senate Finance.