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Senate Finance Committee advances policy to raise three commissioners' salaries
Summary
The Senate Finance Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1148 to the Senate with a due-pass recommendation. The bill raises statutory salaries for commissioners of the Public Utilities Commission, the State Tax Commission and the Idaho Industrial Commission and would require a subsequent JFAC trailer appropriation for funding.
The Idaho Senate Finance Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1148 to the full Senate with a due-pass recommendation, approving a policy change that raises the statutory salaries for three state commissioners.
The bill would set the Public Utilities Commissioner's salary at $129,648, the State Tax Commissioner's salary at $120,620 and the Idaho Industrial Commissioner's salary at $126,350, with the salary amounts taking effect July 1, 2025. Legislative Services staff told the committee the change requires a separate trailer appropriation from the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) to provide funding for the increases.
Legislative Services Budget Policy Analysis Division Manager Keith Bybey summarized the amounts and funding implications, saying the total fiscal impact in a potential trailer appropriation would be $39,600, of which $13,100 would be from the general fund and the remaining amount from dedicated accounts. "This bill would increase the Public Utilities Commissioner's salary from 126,424 to 129,648," Bybey said, and described the comparable increases for the State Tax Commission and the Idaho Industrial Commission.
Committee members asked how the policy bill interacts with funding. Bybey repeated that SB 1148 is a policy bill that changes statutory salary levels and that JFAC retains authority to fund—or not fund—the increases when it considers any trailer appropriation. He told the committee the agencies might be able to absorb part or all of the increased personnel costs from existing dollars, but that a separate JFAC appropriation is the mechanism typically used to provide the money.
A committee member noted dissatisfaction with the size of raises provided this session but said failing to pass the statutory change would prevent these commissioners from receiving any raise. The committee approved the bill on a voice vote; the chair called for "ayes" and recorded no opposition.
Because SB 1148 changes salary amounts that are set in Idaho Code, funding is contingent on JFAC adopting a trailer appropriation. If the Senate and House approve the policy and JFAC does not appropriate money, the statutory change would exist without immediate funding.
