Idaho Agriculture plans continued quagga mussel response, proposes investigator pay ladder and vehicle replacements

The Department of Agriculture told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Friday that it expects to continue elevated spending on quagga mussel prevention and response while seeking funding to improve investigator retention and replace aging field vehicles.

Analyst Frances Lippitt told the committee the department received a $5,000,000 cash transfer from the general fund into the invasive species fund last legislative session and an ongoing $1,500,000 general-fund appropriation for staffing and expanded watercraft inspection stations. Lippitt said the invasive species fund balance projects a decline in part because of the large one-time response spending rather than a decrease in watercraft sticker fee revenue.

Why it matters: The department’s quagga mussel work drives sizable swings in its dedicated fund balances and was the principal reason for a substantial up-tick in the agency’s FY2025 appropriation. Committee members pressed department staff on what the continuing cost profile will be, how funding was…