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JFAC accepts CEC recommendations on state employee pay and targeted raises for troopers and health care
Summary
The Change in Employee Compensation (CEC) committee recommended increases to state pay schedules and targeted raises for troopers, IT and nursing positions; JFAC accepted the report by unanimous consent.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee accepted the Change in Employee Compensation (CEC) committees report, which recommends adjustments to state pay schedules and targeted increases for certain occupations.
Senator Dan Foreman, co-chair of CEC, presented the committees recommendations, saying the committee "recommend[s] shifting the primary compensation schedule upwards by an average of 3.2% as recommended by the division of human resources" with specific exceptions. The CEC recommended shifting specialized compensation schedules upward by an average of 3.2% for public safety, 3% for IT and engineering, and 3.5% for nursing and health care. The CEC also recommended funding a salary increase for state employees equal to "$1.55 per hour per FTP with flexibility allowed for the agency heads and institution presidents to distribute those funds as they see fit."
On public safety, CEC recommended targeted increases for Idaho State Police troopers (pay grade L) "to meet but not exceed 8%" to address apparent staffing shortages and retention issues. Senator Foreman told JFAC the committee saw a "serious public safety emergency" in some districts, citing ISP District 2 (Lewiston-Moscow) at "50% manning" and warning that staffing could drop further without changes.
On nursing and health care, CEC recommended funding "a dollar 55 per hour per FTP or 3%, whichever is greater," with distribution flexibility for agency heads. For IT and engineering positions the committee recommended a 4.5% increase for those salary schedules. The committee recommended maintaining the current employee benefit package and increasing appropriation levels for fiscal year 2026 from $13,000 to $13,960 per FTP.
Senator Ward Engelking raised concerns that the package would cap larger raises for employees earning about $64,000 and noted a reported 19% vacancy/turnover rate among state employees and an estimated 25% below-market pay in some classifications. Representative James Holsclaw (District 20) and other members praised staff work; Senator Woodward voiced support for addressing the trooper retention issue.
The committee accepted the CEC report by unanimous consent. Chairs noted JFAC will hold fuller budget deliberations in the coming week where members can consider these recommendations in appropriation decisions.
