Lawmakers hear CTE budget overview and governor—s $10 million proposal to expand high-demand programs

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Feb. 10 heard a presentation on the Division of Career Technical Education—s (CTE) FY2026 base budget and funding requests, including a governor-recommended $10 million ongoing proposal to expand capacity in high-demand CTE programs.

Kevin Campbell, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee that CTE—s system spans secondary schools, six technical colleges, adult education programs and workforce training centers. "CTE plays a central role in Idaho's ongoing workforce development efforts," Campbell said. He outlined major funds that support CTE programs, including the Displaced Homemaker Fund (revenue from a $20 fee on divorces), the Hazardous Materials and Waste Enforcement Fund (fees from hazardous material trip and annual permits) and the Motorcycle Safety Fund (fees tied to driver's licenses and motorcycle registrations). Campbell said the division typically spends close to 100% of appropriations, with recent exceptions tied to federal funds reappropriated to later years.

Joshua Whitworth, executive director for the State Board of Education and interim administrator for the CTE division, told JFAC that demand for CTE programs has grown substantially at both the secondary and postsecondary levels. "We are seeing large demand across the entire career technical education ecosystem," Whitworth said. He said CTE currently uses multiple funds and has about 569 full-time positions (FTP), with the bulk of those positions concentrated in postsecondary instruction at Idaho's technical colleges. Campbell had reported that personnel costs account for roughly 48.1% of CTE—s expenditures, operating costs 7.5% and trustee and benefit payments 44.4%.

Committee members pressed Whitworth on waitlists and the causes of constrained capacity. Whitworth described three constraints: demand (students and business demand), faculty (qualified instructors) and facilities (shop space, equipment and ventilation). "As that jumps, not only do you reach that constraint on the facility side, you also reach the constraint on the faculty side," Whitworth said.

Lawmakers and staff identified welding and nursing as among the most oversubscribed postsecondary programs. Whitworth pointed to statewide industrial expansion, including Micron and potential activity tied to growth at the Idaho National Laboratory, as drivers of increased demand for welders and other skilled trades. He said the CTE division would typically expand seats at existing programs rather than start entirely new programs, which often requires additional equipment, ventilation and faculty.

The governor's $10 million ongoing recommendation would be distributed as a grant program the division would administer to expand capacity in high-demand programs. Whitworth described the planned approach as requiring industry engagement and matching funds: the grant would prioritize programs where businesses commit to partnerships or matching support so the division can report measurable outcomes. "The grant would require some engagement by industry to participate in that," Whitworth said, adding the program is intended to be adaptable over a multi-year cycle so funds can be reallocated to new high-demand areas as needed.

CTE requested other FY2026 items including $664,000 ongoing from the general fund for additional instructors in at-capacity programs, $125,400 for a business-industry engagement manager, $50,000 for adult education and workplace English, and modest federal spending-authority adjustments. Whitworth described the business-industry engagement manager as a district-focused position that would embed with school districts to help tie local businesses to program needs and support public-private partnerships where districts cannot afford such staff.

Tracy Bent, chief administrative officer for the division, explained that the adult education and workplace English funding supports adult basic education and English-language instruction for students at workforce training centers, including people transitioning from correctional settings. "It teaches them skills in basic, workplace English so that they can move into our workforce and be successful," Bent said.

Committee members also raised fund-balance questions. Senator Berkey and Representative Tanner noted a reported negative balance in the Hazardous Materials and Waste Enforcement Fund for FY2024 and questioned whether that reflected spending or a reporting issue; Whitworth said staff would follow up with more information. Representative Tanner also asked about the Motorcycle Safety Fund, noting growth in ending balances and asking whether the division will adjust fees or expand program expenditures; Whitworth said the division would review the fee structure and fund balances and return recommendations.

Several lawmakers asked for more detail on how the governor's $10 million ongoing proposal would be allocated and overseen before supporting it on the floor. Representative Furness said the committee needs a defensible distribution plan. Whitworth said the division plans to run the funding as grants to technical colleges and districts with industry partnership requirements, and the division would monitor outcomes and report whether grants reduce oversubscription in targeted programs.

The presentation included a list of recent and prior appropriations the committee may consider in budget deliberations: ongoing and one-time investments in CTE staff and program expansions, $5 million ongoing for readiness in middle and high schools, $10 million one-time for secondary programs, and $5 million one-time for postsecondary equipment. Campbell and Whitworth said CTE typically spends near full appropriation levels and that recent increases reflect both employee compensation adjustments and targeted enhancements.

Committee members asked for follow-up materials, including: - a list of oversubscribed postsecondary programs and seat shortages; - a breakdown showing how personnel-related appropriations are distributed between state-level positions and positions paid to technical colleges; and - clarification on hazardous-materials fund balances and motorcycle-safety fund expenditures.

The committee paused further debate to allow staff to provide those details in follow-up submissions.