Lewis‑Clark State College tells JFAC salary gap persists as EWA and enrollment shifts alter funding

BOISE, Idaho — Lewis‑Clark State College President Cynthia Pemberton told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 27 that the college is recovering enrollment after pandemic declines but faces continuing budget pressure because of formula adjustments and a persistent salary gap with K‑12 salaries.

Pemberton, appearing with the college’s finance vice president, discussed the college’s FY2025 base appropriation of about $41.7 million and explained how tuition and fees are reappropriated between academic years as part of the institutions’ financial management. Kevin Campbell, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee that Lewis‑Clark’s FY2024 appropriation was $40,517,100 and that the college reported approximately $23.7 million in tuition and fee revenue reappropriated into FY2025.

Why it matters: Lewis‑Clark is a small, regional four‑year public college that draws a high share of Pell‑eligible, first‑generation students. Changes to the State Board of Education’s enrollment workload adjustment (EWA) formula and the composition of students’ credit hours can shift funding among institutions and affect the college’s capacity to pay competitive wages.

Campbell and Pemberton explained the…