Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Employee Compensation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Compensation committee recommends across‑the‑board shifts, targeted increases for troopers; JFAC accepts CEC report
Summary
The change in employee compensation (CEC) committee recommended modest salary schedule shifts plus targeted raises for troopers, IT, nursing and a $1.55 per hour option; JFAC accepted the report by unanimous consent.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee accepted a report from the Change in Employee Compensation (CEC) committee that recommends shifting state salary schedules upward and funding targeted pay increases for specific occupations.
Senator Dan Foreman, CEC co‑chair, told the committee the primary compensation schedule should move up by an average of 3.2% (as recommended by the Division of Human Resources) while holding pay‑grade D minimum at $7.25 per hour. Foreman said specialized schedules should rise by an average of 3.2% for public safety, 3.0% for IT and engineering, and 3.5% for nursing and health care.
The committee recommended funding a salary increase option of $1.55 per hour per full‑time position (FTP) with local distribution flexibility for agency heads and institution presidents. For nursing and health care positions the CEC recommended the greater of $1.55 per hour per FTP or 3.0%. For IT and engineering staff the committee recommended a 4.5% salary increase. On law enforcement pay, Foreman said the committee recommends funding an increase "to meet but not exceed 8%" for Idaho State Police troopers in pay grade L to address retention and public safety concerns.
Foreman described trooper staffing as a public safety problem: "The Manning level of the Idaho State Police with respect to street troopers ... is at a critically low level. In my district ... they're already at 50% manning," he said, adding that the committee found low wages, not morale or working conditions, to be the primary driver of departures.
The CEC recommended maintaining the current employee benefit package and increasing the appropriation level for fiscal year 2026 per FTP from $13,000 to $13,960. The committee did not vote on the insurance appropriation for school districts and recommended those amounts be addressed in that budget.
Senators and representatives asked questions about the trooper recommendation and overall recruitment and retention. Senator Ward Engleking said she was "very concerned" about vacancies and argued the proposals may not fully address market disparities. Representative James Holsclaw, the committee’s co‑chair, praised staff work and emphasized balancing stewardship of public funds with employee retention.
Co‑chair Horman asked unanimous consent to accept the CEC report; Senator Woodward seconded. With no objections, JFAC accepted the report by unanimous consent.
