Idaho Department of Agriculture asks for pay, equipment and quagga-mussel funding as staffing strains persist

The Idaho Department of Agriculture told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Oct. 24 that its fiscal 2026 budget request centers on continued quagga-mussel response, a career-ladder pay proposal for agricultural investigators and replacement of aging vehicles and IT equipment.

The department’s budget analyst, Frances Lippett, said the agency has seen a recent spike in one-time invasive-species costs and noted funding comes from a mix of dedicated fees, federal grants and recent general-fund infusions. “During the last legislative session, the legislature approved an infusion of $5,000,000 from the general fund to the invasive species fund to ensure sufficient resources to detect and respond to quagga mussels,” Lippett said.

Why it matters: quagga mussel detection, watercraft inspections and decontamination stations require staff and equipment statewide, and Lippett said the department’s dedicated funds vary year-to-year with inspection and treatment needs. The agency also sought an ongoing $1.5 million general‑fund appropriation to support staffing and check‑station operations.

Most important facts

- The department asked for several ongoing and one‑time items for fiscal 2026 including a pay-structure proposal for agricultural investigators, change‑in‑employee‑compensation (CEC) requests for fresh fruit and vegetable inspectors, and $891,000 in one‑time…