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JFAC accepts CEC recommendations for state employee pay adjustments, flags retention concerns
Summary
The Change in Employee Compensation committee recommended salary schedule shifts and targeted increases; JFAC accepted the report by unanimous consent and members raised concerns about state employee vacancies and pay competitiveness.
The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee accepted the Change in Employee Compensation (CEC) committee's recommendations by unanimous consent, approving the committee's report that outlines salary schedule shifts and targeted pay adjustments for state employees.
Senator Dan Foreman, co‑chair of the CEC committee, presented the report and recommended shifting the primary compensation schedule upward by an average of 3.2 percent, with exceptions: pay grade D minimum to remain at $7.25 per hour. The CEC recommended specialized schedule increases averaging 3.2 percent for public safety, 3.0 percent for IT and engineering, and 3.5 percent for nursing and health care.
Foreman told JFAC the committee recommended that the legislature fund a $1.55 per hour increase per full‑time position (FTP) with flexibility for agency heads to allocate those funds. For Idaho State Police troopers (pay grade L), the CEC recommended funding an increase up to but not exceeding 8 percent. "The driving factor behind this mass exodus has been low wages," Foreman said, describing retention concerns and low manning in some ISP districts.
The CEC recommended a 4.5 percent salary increase for employees on the IT and engineering schedule and the larger of $1.55 per hour or 3 percent for nursing and health care positions. The committee recommended maintaining the current employee benefit package and increasing appropriation levels for FY2026 from $13,000 to $13,960 per FTP. The CEC did not vote on the insurance appropriation for school districts and recommended addressing those amounts within that budget.
During discussion, Senator Ward Engelking warned that many state employees would not reach the recommended percentages, saying employees making about $64,000 would not receive a 5 percent raise and that the state faces a roughly 19 percent vacancy/turnover rate. Representative James Holsclaw, CEC co‑chair, thanked staff and emphasized balancing fiscal stewardship with appreciating employees.
The committee accepted the CEC report by unanimous consent; Senator Woodward seconded the consent request and no objections were recorded.
Why this matters: The CEC recommendations set parameters JFAC will use when considering appropriations to address recruitment and retention, including targeted pay increases for troopers and specified occupational groups. Lawmakers noted significant vacancy rates and said the increases may not fully close market gaps.
