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Week 4
Budgeting and the Struggle for
Compensation for State Employees
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I am at a loss with this mindset. If we have $400 million to "give back" then we could find a few million to provide wage increases to our most valuable resource -- PEOPLE! Our STATE EMPLOYEES!
Many state employees, who provide valuable services to our state, are being driven into the private or public sectors (city or county governments), where they can actually make a living wage, so they put food on their own tables and care for their families. We have a general 20% turnover rate in state employees, which means increased costs in training and less effective service due to vacancies. We save money over time when we retain good employees, but our legislators are so fixated on controlling our personal lives through the myriad of bills about flags, bathrooms, vaccines, covid (still!), that they are not focusing on what is important -- the people who are serving us in state government.
JFAC, my morning committee, still hasn't set the revenue projection numbers that are needed to do accurate budgeting; this is something that should be done in the first week to establish budget expectations as we proceed with budget hearings. Without these, we can't really know what our spending targets should be. We also have not successfully passed a bill to meet our statutory obligation to provide a competitive compensation package for state employees (CEC).
Friday's Vote on Employee Salaries Results in Stalemate
For the second time in 4 weeks, the committee failed to come to agreement on an appropriate salary increase for our state employees. There was one motion that included $1.55 per hour or 4% increase whichever is greater based on merit. I supported this motion first because it was the closest to the Governor's recommendation and provided good increases. However, when it failed I made a motion to accept the Governor's recommendation, which I think follows the CEC report and is the best package being discussed, but it also failed:
- The Division of Human Resources (DHR) recommends an increase in employee compensation of 4% or $1.25 per hour per FTP distributed on merit and an additional 5.5% for IT/engineering employees. DHR also recommends shifting all salary structure midpoints upward by an average of 3.0% to 3.5% depending on the salary structure. The Governor recommends an increase in employee compensation of 5% or $1.55 per hour per FTP and does not recommend a compensation increase for group and temporary employees. The Governor also recommends an additional 4.5% market based increase for IT/engineering employees. The Governor recommends $14,300 per eligible FTP for health insurance, which is an increase of $1,300 per FTP from FY 2025 for the employer. PERSI’s retirement rates will be set in the spring of 2025.
According to Idaho Code 67-5309A, "It is hereby declared to be the intent of the legislature of the state of Idaho that the goal of a total compensation system for state employees shall be to fund a competitive employee compensation and benefit package that will attract qualified applicants to the work force; retain employees who have a commitment to public service excellence; motivate employees to maintain high standards of productivity; and reward employees for outstanding performance."
I cited this code section in committee, because I don't believe that the legislature is meeting its statutory obligation and we continue to fall well below the targets for competitive wages compared to private and pubic sector. If you are interested, you can read the CEC report here and see how far behind we are lagging, which affects the services and programs that citizens expect.
According to statute, "The foundation for this philosophy recognizes that state government is a service enterprise in which the state work force provides the most critical role for Idaho citizens. Maintaining a competitive compensation system is an integral, necessary and expected cost of providing the delivery of state services..."
I am so disappointed that this is a battle each and every year! It shouldn't be. We need to support our state employees and allow the Governor to supervise the state agencies instead of micromanaging at every turn.
A Little History
The Joint Finance and Appropriation Committee (JFAC) is comprised of 10 House members and 10 Senate members. I served on this committee when I was in the House from 2016 - 2020. I have returned this year to find much of the institution, which I was so proud of, has been eroded through a lack of rule compliance and too many arbitrary and external controls of the committee.
The committee is charged with reviewing all the agency budgets and advancing bills to the rest of the legislature to consider for final approval of the agency budgets. In the past, agency directors were given time to present their budgets and speak to their priorities in committee. However, 2 years ago, under new co-chairs, they decided to create a new process whereby the Legislative Services staff present most of the agency budgets and then each director comes to the podium for questions. While this is in the purview of the ch-chairs, it is more difficult to get information about each priority and leaves a lot of room for misunderstanding when we leave committee. And since this is the only committee where public testimony is NOT allowed, I believe it is very important to get more information on the record, to be more transparent so the public has a better understanding of what we are doing.
During our meeting on Friday, confusion over the rules surfaced again and we failed to pass CEC. If you would like to read more about what happened in committee, click here.
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A WEEKLY COLUMN FEATURING SENATE MINORITY AND MAJORITY LEADERS AS THEY "SOUND OFF" ON TOPICS AT THE STATEHOUSE.
THIS WEEK'S TOPIC -- VOUCHER SCHEMES
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The following article was published in the Boise Weekly on January 30, 2025, where you can read my article and the majority leader's article as well.
For my first “Boise Weekly Sound Off,” I want to tackle voucher schemes, a direct threat to Idaho’s future.
Republicans refer to vouchers as “school choice” or “refundable tax credits,” but those are just misleading rebrands. Vouchers, by any name, siphon your taxes from public schools, widen inequality, and fail the next generation of Idahoans.
“School choice” is a misnomer because Idaho leads the nation in choices parents have for sending their kids to school, including charter schools, open enrollment, online programs, magnet schools, homeschooling and more.
If vouchers are introduced, they won’t expand your choices—they’ll make you pay for someone else’s. Your tax dollars will fund private or religious schools with zero accountability, including some that espouse extremism. That’s a blank check straight out of the state budget.
CLICK HERE TO FINISH READING MY STORY....
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On January 21st, exactly 10 years to the day after the first Add the Words bill was defeated in 2015, hundreds of LGBTQ+ Idahoans and allies gathered in the rotunda of the statehouse. What a powerful demonstration of community.
I am so proud of this community and the way that everyone has continued to show up and fight for the rights that all people deserve. We have tried over the past 10 years to get the words 'sexual orientation' and 'gender identity' added to Idaho's Human Rights Act, but Republican legislative leaders refuse; instead, they pass bills attacking the community, and denying rights.
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Later that night, people gathered in a supportive community to reflect on years of work that was depicted in a photo timeline capturing so many incredible moments. We watched the documentary of Add the Words Idaho and celebrated the people who got arrested in efforts to raise awareness and advocate for the legislation.
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District 19 Town Hall - January
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Vouchers, Medicaid, and Marriage Equality...oh my!
District 19 held its first town hall of this legislative session this week and we had a great turnout! Thanks so much to everyone who took the time to come out on Monday to share their thoughts and connect with our legislative process. Much of what we heard echoes our concerns as legislators - school choice vouchers, marriage equality, Medicaid repeal, ballot initiatives, and more. We had a rich conversation with our constituents and Representative Church left us with our great ideas on how to get involved.
Thank you, District 19!
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BABE VOTE Helps Coach Youth to Testify
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On the 16th, a group of high school BABE VOTE members held a testimony training with the goal of educating their fellow peers on how to give effective testimony and communicate well.
Representative Monica Church attended and added a unique perspective by sharing how essential coordination between constituents and legislators in the testimony process.
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Youth voices are essential in all levels of our society, and especially in our statehouse, where many oft he laws are being made about them and "protect the children" rhetoric is becoming an increasingly common tactic used to pass legislation. Key takeaways from the event included how to sign up to testify, decorum when testifying, and tips for effective communication.
If you want to get involved with BABE VOTE, a youth led organization fighting for voting rights and youth involvement in government, follow them on Instagram @babevote or go to their website here: BABE VOTE
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Hawthorne Elementary Connects with NASA
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You may remember a few weeks ago when I wrote about visiting Hawthorne Elementary to enjoy a NASA presentation organized by Dr. Kellie Taylor. Not only was it so much fun to see our public schools in action but the students and I learned about what it's like to live on the International Space Station from NASA Astronaut Don Pettit! If you would like watch a recording of the event, you can do so by clicking HERE.
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I was able to meet with part of orchestra and some actors who are here touring with Hamilton!
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I met with some bright high school students who were interested in the types of education that is provided for smoking and vaping.
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I enjoyed meeting with many amazing Idaho doctors and medical residents! Here I am with Dr. Abby Davids!
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I introduced some medical residents to the legislator who is working to repeal Medicaid Expansion in Idaho. My facial expressions say it all!
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Here is a shortened list of bills that have been introduced in either the House (H) or Senate (S) that provide insight into the legislature’s upside down priorities, a far cry from good for the people.
It's so disappointing to see time and money wasted on political grandstanding that harms everyday folks instead of solving real problems Idahoans are facing like housing, school funding, child care, crumbling roads and bridges, and more.
The Idaho Legislature has gone from conservative values of less government to overreach at every turn to control Idahoans's lives.
Some of these bills will move forward and some will stall or die along the way. Future newsletters will usually discuss the ones that come up for a vote either in committee or on the floor of the House or Senate. The title of each bill is a link to track its progress.
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Governor Veto on Ballot Initiatives (H0085): This House bill essentially says that although Idaho residents reserve the right to enact legislation through the ballot initiative process, the information supporting that initiative has the potential to be misinformed and therefore should be able to be vetoed by the Governor. It has been referred to the House Judiciary, Rules, and Administration Committee.
ANOTHER SCHOOL CHOICE VOUCHER (H0093): This House bill seeks to siphon money from our public schools and refund it to families who opt into having their children attend other schools. It has been referred to the House Judiciary, Rules, and Administration Committee.
Another Flag Ban for Government Offices (H0096): This House bill seeks to ban "certain types of flags" from being displayed in government entities. It has been referred to the House Judiciary, Rules, and Administration Committee.
Banning Universities from Regulating Weapons (S1008): This Senate bill prohibits universities and public colleges from regulating the otherwise lawful possession, carrying, or transporting of firearms or ammunition on campus. It has been referred to Senate State Affairs.
Allowing Armed Private Militia (S1009): This Senate bill allows any group of people or private militia to parade in public while bearing firearms. It was referred to Senate State Affairs.
Creating a Committee to Study the "Harms" of COVID Vaccines (SCR102): This Senate Concurrent Resolution aims to create a study committee to revisit how the state handled the COVID epidemic, with the belief that there was no credible threat to public safety and that vaccines were harmful and not effective. It passed the Senate and is now referred to the House State Affairs Committee.
Limiting Jurisdiction of the World Health Organization (S1010): Reaffirms the President's executive order, that the World Health Organization (WHO) has no jurisdiction over Idaho. It has been referred to Senate State Affairs.
Another Private School Tuition Refund (S1025): This Senate bill provides grants for school tuition, only requires schools to submit reports required by federal law, and allocates $30M for special education in Idaho public schools. It has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.
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700 W. Jefferson St.
Please join me and Representatives Mathias and Church for our second town hall of the 2025 legislative session where we will answer questions and share our perspectives.
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Local news resources to stay updated on the legislature:
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