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Committee accepts employee compensation recommendations including targeted trooper pay boost
Summary
JFAC accepted the Change in Employee Compensation committee report recommending across-the-board and targeted salary adjustments, a continued benefits package, and agency-level flexibility in distribution of funds.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee accepted the report from the Change in Employee Compensation (CEC) committee, which recommends adjustments to the state's salary schedules and targeted increases for high‑turnover occupations.
CEC co-chair Senator Dan Foreman presented the committee’s recommendations: shift the primary compensation schedule up an average of 3.2% (with pay‑grade D minimum remaining $7.25 per hour); raise specialized schedules by 3.2% for public safety, 3% for information technology and engineering, and 3.5% for nursing and health care. The committee recommended a statewide salary increase equivalent to $1.55 per hour per full‑time position (FTP), with flexibility for agency heads and institution presidents to distribute those funds as they deem appropriate.
The panel recommended a targeted pay increase for Idaho State Police troopers (pay grade L) up to, but not exceeding, 8% to address what the CEC described as critically low staffing levels in some districts. Senator Foreman cited district staffing as low as 50% in parts of northern Idaho and said low wages — not morale or working conditions — are the primary driver of departures.
The CEC recommendations also included a 4.5% salary increase for IT and engineering schedules, and for nursing/health positions the greater of $1.55 per hour or 3%, again with distribution flexibility left to agencies. The committee recommended maintaining the current employee benefits package without significant design changes and proposed increasing the appropriation per FTP for FY2026 from $13,000 to $13,960.
During discussion, Senator Ward Engelking urged stronger increases, saying many state positions remain well below market. “We have over a 19% vacancy in turnover. We also are looking at being 25% below market rate,” Engelking said, and cautioned that the recommended adjustments may not stem the loss of employees.
Representative James Holsclaw, also a CEC co‑chair, emphasized staff work and the committee’s attempt to balance fiscal stewardship with employee retention needs.
Formal action: Co‑chair Horman requested unanimous consent to accept the CEC report; Senator Woodward seconded. The committee accepted the report with no objections recorded.
What happens next: JFAC members said they will take up the CEC recommendations again during upcoming budget decisions; acceptance today was of the committee report rather than enactment of specific appropriations.
