Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Colleges Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
JFAC adds $1.68 million to community colleges, directs outcome‑based funding proposal by 2025
Summary
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee approved $1,679,800 in ongoing general fund enrollment adjustments for Idaho community colleges and directed the State Board of Education to return with an outcome‑based funding model by Dec. 31, 2025 and implement by FY2028.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee voted on March 7 to add $1,679,800 in ongoing general‑fund enrollment workload adjustments for Idaho’s community colleges and to ask the State Board of Education to develop an outcome‑based funding model for further consideration.
The appropriation increases were allocated as follows: $496,800 ongoing for the College of Eastern Idaho, $690,000 ongoing for the College of Southern Idaho and $493,000 ongoing for the College of Western Idaho, for a total additional FY2026 general‑fund appropriation of $1,679,800.
Representative Kelly Petske (motion maker listed in transcript as "Representative Pesky") moved the enrollment workload adjustment, and Senator Ward Engelking seconded the motion. The committee approved the measure by a committee majority: Senate votes 9‑aye, 1‑nay; House votes 10‑aye, 0‑nay — a combined 19‑aye, 1‑nay, 0‑absent. The motion will be sent to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation.
Committee members said the action was intended to address wait lists and capacity constraints in community‑college career and technical education (CTE) programs. Representatives cited concerns that a 3% cap on enrollment workload adjustments would unfairly limit colleges that had achieved enrollment growth; North Idaho College was held harmless after showing recent enrollment gains and progress on accreditation concerns.
In related committee action, Representative Petzke asked to place language on the record directing the Office of the State Board of Education to develop an outcome‑based funding model and return to JFAC with a proposal by Dec. 31, 2025, with implementation scheduled for FY2028. The committee accepted that language by unanimous consent.
Why it matters: Committee members said the additional funding aims to relieve immediate capacity pressure for CTE programs while the outcome‑based funding work proceeds. Community colleges and their programs feed the state’s workforce pipelines, and committee members tied the increases to both enrollment growth and workforce needs.
Speakers at the item included Kevin Campbell, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, who presented the colleges’ budget framework and enrollment workload adjustment (EWA) mechanics.
The committee also directed the State Board of Education to engage with JFAC during the outcome‑model development process, signaling an expectation for legislative input prior to full implementation in FY2028.
