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Idaho Parks and Recreation asks lawmakers to consolidate programs, raise seasonal and ranger pay amid capital requests
Summary
Department leaders told the Joint Finance Committee the agency seeks a ministerial consolidation of management and operations budgets, targeted pay increases to address compression for rangers and managers, and funding for deferred maintenance and capital projects including marina replacements at Heyburn State Park.
The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation told the Joint Finance Committee it is seeking a program consolidation and targeted pay adjustments to address wage compression for ranger and management positions, while continuing to press for one-time capital work on parks infrastructure.
Budget analyst Janet Jessup told lawmakers the department is allocated 190.8 full-time positions and that most spending and staff are concentrated in park operations. Director Susan Buxton described the program consolidation as administrative and said it would not reduce transparency: “It really is a ministerial request,” Buxton said, adding that merging management services and park operations would make it “a lot easier for us to manage across the system and there would be absolutely no loss of information.”
The department is seeking two targeted compensation actions for fiscal 2026: (1) raise seasonal employee pay from $12 to $15 per…
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