Joint finance panel approves $177.4 million employee pay package including $1.55 hourly minimum and targeted raises for troopers, IT and nurses

BOISE — The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a statewide employee compensation package Thursday that funds a minimum $1.55-per-hour increase for permanent state employees and includes targeted raises for specific groups, the committee said during its Feb. 6 meeting.

The motion, moved by Representative Miller and seconded by Senator Groves, passed after roll calls in both chambers. The committee adopted the package by a vote the Senate recorded as 8 ayes and 2 nays and the House voting unanimously, yielding a combined total reported on the floor of 18 ayes and 2 nays. The measure will be added to maintenance bills the committee previously passed and sent forward with a due-pass recommendation.

The package funds a $1.55 hourly boost for permanent employees of state agencies and institutions, with $84,411,100 identified in one line item for the $1.55 figure. It also includes: a $2,305,700 placeholder for community colleges (funded at 5% equivalent because community college FTP data are not in the legislative database); $6,042,800 for salary-schedule adjustments for employees at the minimum of their pay grade; an…