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Committee accepts change-in-employee-compensation report recommending targeted raises, trooper increase
Summary
JFAC accepted the Change in Employee Compensation (CEC) committee report recommending targeted salary schedule shifts, a $1.55-per-hour-per-FTP pool for raises, and up to an 8% increase for Idaho State Police troopers to address critical staffing shortages.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee accepted the Change in Employee Compensation (CEC) committee's report by unanimous consent, adopting the committee's recommendations for salary schedule adjustments and targeted pay actions for fiscal-year planning.
Senator Dan Foreman, co-chair of the CEC committee, presented the report and recommended shifting the primary compensation schedule upward by an average of 3.2 percent, with exceptions. Foreman said the committee recommended "shifting the primary compensation schedule upwards by an average of 3.2% as recommended by the division of human resources with the exception of pay grade d where the minimum shall stay at $7.25 per hour." He also described specialty schedule adjustments: 3.2% for public safety, 3% for IT and engineering, and 3.5% for nursing and health care.
On salary increases, the committee recommended the legislature fund a salary pool equal to $1.55 per hour per full-time position (FTP), with flexibility for agency heads and institution presidents to distribute those funds. For IT and engineering positions the CEC recommended a 4.5% salary increase; for nursing and health care the committee recommended either $1.55 per hour per FTP or 3%, whichever is greater. The committee also recommended maintaining the current employee benefit package and increasing appropriation levels for fiscal 2026 from 13,000 to 13,960 per FTP (as stated in the committee report).
The CEC committee made a targeted recommendation for Idaho State Police troopers in pay grade L: the legislature should fund a salary increase up to, but not exceeding, 8% to address a retention crisis. Senator Foreman told the committee the trooper recommendation "was driven by what I would term a serious public safety emergency," describing staffing shortfalls in some districts at about 50 percent of authorized trooper positions.
Senator Ward Engelking raised concerns that higher-paid state employees ("anyone making over about $64,000") would not receive a 5% raise and stressed the state's high vacancy and turnover rates in some areas. Representative James Holsclaw, also a CEC co-chair, thanked staff and emphasized the committee's intent to balance stewardship of public funds with employee retention efforts.
On the floor, a member asked unanimous consent to accept the CEC report; the request received no objections and the report was accepted. Members were reminded that accepting the CEC report does not itself appropriate funding; JFAC will review and act on appropriation decisions in subsequent budget hearings.
