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Committee fails to adopt change‑in‑employee‑compensation plan after multiple motions; CEC deferred
Summary
Committee members debated four alternative CEC packages — flat $1.55 hourly increase, 3% minimum plus $1.55, merit‑based 4%, and the governor’s 5% merit plan — but none of the motions secured the required joint majority and the committee deferred final action to a future date.
BOISE, Idaho — Lawmakers on the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee debated four competing change‑in‑employee‑compensation (CEC) motions during a lengthy Jan. 31 session but did not approve any plan.
Committee analysts outlined four options in the packet: (1) a flat dollar approach calculated at $1.55 per hour per FTP (motion 1); (2) a $1.55 per hour approach with $611,500 added to guarantee a 3% minimum for higher‑paid employees (motion 2, substitute presented by Representative Furness); (3) a merit‑based plan providing up to 4% (Senator Cook’s substitute); and (4) the governor’s recommendation, a 5% merit increase distributed on merit (motion 4).
Representatives and senators argued over the merits of flat versus merit‑based increases, the need to protect low‑paid workers, and administrative safeguards against favoritism. Senator Cook and others emphasized merit pay as a tool to retain and reward high performers; Representative Handy and others noted advantages to across‑the‑board increases for lower‑paid staff. Committee analysts explained methodological differences among the motions and the fund‑split calculations used for colleges, community colleges and public schools.
The committee held multiple roll calls. Several substitute and original motions were brought to vote at distinct points in the meeting; none received the required majority of the joint quorum under the committee’s adopted voting procedure. After the final failed vote, the committee chair said the motions were “too complex to calculate on the fly” and deferred CEC decisions to a future meeting.
Committee staff and members said they will return to the proposals after refining numbers and confirming procedural rules with leadership.
