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Idaho Department of Agriculture seeks funds to sustain quagga mussel response, improve investigator pay
Summary
Department officials told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee the department doubled sampling and inspections for quagga mussels in 2024 and is seeking ongoing and one-time funds to sustain those operations, replace vehicles and create a pay structure to retain agricultural investigators.
BOISE — At a Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee hearing (date not specified), the Idaho State Department of Agriculture reviewed its fiscal 2026 budget request and highlighted continuing costs tied to quagga mussel prevention and control, staff retention and equipment replacement.
The department asked the committee to fund ongoing positions and pay adjustments and requested one-time dollars for vehicle and IT replacement. Department officials told lawmakers the state significantly expanded watercraft inspections and sampling in 2024 and that those higher service levels drove higher costs in dedicated funds that normally back those operations.
The department’s budget analyst, Frances Lippett, said the department’s statutory responsibilities are spread across many Idaho Code titles and described the department’s eight budgeted programs and fund structure. Lippett noted a $5 million general fund infusion approved in the last session to support quagga mussel response and explained that the department also received an ongoing $1.5 million general fund appropriation “primarily for staffing and building additional…
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