Idaho DEQ seeks targeted pay increases to reduce permit backlogs; cites vacancies and ARPA-funded cleanup work

At a March legislative budget committee hearing, Jess Byrne, director of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), told lawmakers the agency is experiencing elevated turnover and vacancy rates that have increased the time it takes to issue permits and strained the agency’s ability to deliver services.

Byrne said targeted pay increases in the governor’s budget and a separate legislative cost-of-living component (CEC) would improve recruitment and retention for technical permitting positions. He warned that persistent vacancies have led to longer permit timelines that can delay business activity and, in some cases, invite federal third-party litigation.

Staffing shortfalls and performance measures

Janet Jessup, Legislative Services budget analyst, presented DEQ’s budget materials and noted the department is allocated 385 full-time positions. Jessup said that at the time of the budget submission the agency reported about 37 vacancies (roughly a 9.7% vacancy rate) and that DEQ expended about 85% of its personnel dollars in 2024.

Byrne told the committee permitting has slowed in several programs. He said average times for air-quality permit issuance rose from about 89 days to about 160 days in recent reporting, and that turnover in technical permit roles is a primary driver: "we've seen a…