Lewis‑Clark State College asks JFAC for help closing salary gap, flags enrollment and formula impacts

BOISE, Idaho — Lewis‑Clark State College President Cynthia Pemberton told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 27 that the college needs continued state support to address employee pay, operational costs and enrollment pressures.

Pemberton and a Legislative Services Office analyst, Kevin Campbell, presented Lewis‑Clark’s budget picture and requests. Campbell said Lewis‑Clark’s base appropriation for FY2025 is $41,700,000 and that tuition and fees — which are reappropriated between fiscal years — are a material part of the college’s cash flow. He also described the Normal School Income Fund and other endowments that support the institution.

Why this matters: Lewis‑Clark is a small, regionally focused public four‑year college that trains workers in health care and technical trades. Its financial health and ability to retain faculty affect program continuity for students across North Idaho.

Pemberton emphasized the operational consequences of the state’s funding mix and an old enrollment formula known as the Enrollment Workload Adjustment (EWA). She told the committee the EWA is a…