Lewis‑Clark State College details budget needs, cites EWA cut and salary gap; LAUNCH increased CTE enrollment

Dr. Cynthia Pemberton, president of Lewis‑Clark State College, told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 27 in Boise that the college faces a modest FY2026 reduction from the enrollment workload adjustment and still seeks operational capacity funding and help closing a multi‑year salary gap.

Kevin Campbell, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, presented the college’s budget overview and explained how higher education budgets treat tuition and fee revenue. Campbell said reappropriated tuition and fees are part of the institutions’ spending authority and that “reappropriation does not mean unspent or uncommitted or unaccountable.” He reported Lewis‑Clark’s FY2025 base appropriation and noted the college will see a reduction of $102,500 in FY2026 under the enrollment workload adjustment (EWA) formula.

Why it matters: Lewis‑Clark is a small, regionally focused four‑year public college whose budget and staff compensation affect the North Idaho…