Lawmakers press CTE on faculty, facilities and governor’s $10M capacity grant

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Feb. 10 heard an overview of Idaho Career Technical Education’s (CTE) base budget and FY2026 requests, including a governor‑recommended $10 million ongoing fund to expand capacity in high‑demand programs.

Kevin Campbell, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee that CTE operates across secondary schools, Idaho’s six technical colleges and workforce training centers and relies on several restricted funds established in statute, including the Displaced Homemaker Fund, the Hazardous Materials and Waste Enforcement Fund, and the Motorcycle Safety Fund.

Why it matters: CTE officials and legislators said demand for skilled technical training has grown substantially statewide, producing wait lists for programs such as welding and nursing. Committee members pressed CTE leaders for details on how requested dollars would be targeted and how the division will track whether additional funding reduces wait lists or expands employment outcomes.

Campbell summarized the division’s recent appropriations and requests, listing multiple ongoing and one‑time enhancements allocated in FY2024–FY2025 and outlining FY2026 requests including instructor funding, a business‑industry engagement manager position, and a governor…