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JFAC adds $1.68 million to community colleges to cover enrollment workload adjustments
Summary
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted to add $1,679,800 ongoing from the general fund for enrollment workload adjustments across Idaho’s community colleges and directed the State Board to develop an outcome-based funding model for implementation by FY 2028.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 7 approved $1,679,800 in ongoing general fund support for Idaho’s community colleges to cover enrollment workload adjustments, with the motion passing on a committee vote and a due-pass recommendation to the floor.
The motion, offered during the JFAC session, added $496,800 for College of Eastern Idaho, $690,000 for College of Southern Idaho and $493,000 for College of Western Idaho to the FY2026 program maintenance budget. The committee specifically held North Idaho College harmless after noting its recent enrollment turnaround and accreditation progress.
Representative Pesky moved the adjustment; Senator Ward Engleking seconded. The roll call returned 19 ayes and 1 nay (Senate 9–1; House 10–0) and the motion passed. Committee staff also presented draft language directing the Office of the State Board of Education to develop an outcome-based funding model and return to JFAC by Dec. 31, 2025, with a goal to implement the model by FY 2028; the committee accepted the proposed language by unanimous consent.
Why it matters: Committee members said the intent is to allow community colleges to meet demand in oversubscribed CTE programs and avoid penalizing colleges with recent positive enrollment trends. The enrollment workload adjustment (EWA) is a backward-looking metric that, committee members said, did not reflect recent improvements at North Idaho College.
Background and next steps: The community colleges’ appropriations are made as trustee and benefit payments, and the colleges are subject to workload adjustments as determined by the Office of the State Board of Education. The language requiring an outcome-based funding model will return to JFAC for review later this year, per staff presentation.
Ending: The motion was sent to the legislative floor with a due-pass recommendation. Committee staff said members will consider additional budget items in the coming weeks as the legislature works toward completion of the FY2026 budget.
