[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6358600,"mediaKeyId","2212108-5634a57b04cde6a414e777b89ed77d4e","parentId",2212108,"title","Committee deadlocks on CEC pay proposals; four alternative compensation packages fail to pass","audioSeconds",3483,"startMs",1505000,"endMs",4988000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2212108-5634a57b04cde6a414e777b89ed77d4e&start=1505&end=4988","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2212108-5634a57b04cde6a414e777b89ed77d4e/thumbnail_1505000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6358600/Idaho/Committee-deadlocks-on-CEC-pay-proposals-four-alternative-compensation-packages-fail-to-pass","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358600-38e37c6664b9f73a831c9e4136129871/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142254&Signature=CVswkbrbC4uRI2p3gqs6I~JOtSm-q2m3IORMhfI0mFfBkDYDwI~oI1a9o3uPYh679RN~X5FHYu5kaLQkpkyQpedYl8cx6clGP3X9I0UfhJ36KqopHSChobRZVYMHeQmYE7yzsFLfHAVVuKy-~Cyve8h4OZMmk9BfpWowDQGkvf-2hpCuAdqJZ~bnZpffNz1JPlU56ngypyzB6CjHq4H5RtmUpwmIfC3STw4ic55CExtij012I6qxnC7ZI2NfW-c5k0i8WCNYilj6VGdInC8KGCwulSUfsfowwoaB4O30FZoGSVrMx7WcYSKf9xx3tH9Q1FyaVMnPQwp9Mq9uKMwyNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Idaho Joint Legislative","date","2025-01-31T00:00:00Z","article","The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee spent substantial time on Jan. 31 debating four alternative change‑in‑employee‑compensation (CEC) packages for fiscal year 2026 but did not approve any plan and deferred the matter for later action.

Committee analysts and members outlined four motions: a flat $1.55 per hour per full‑time equivalent distribution with other adjustments (motion 1); a compromise dollar figure plus a guarantee of at least 3% for certain salary bands (motion 2); a merit‑based package providing up to 4% with merit distribution (motion 3); and the governor’s recommendation, a 5% merit distribution (motion 4). Representative Miller presented the dollar‑per‑hour motion (motion 1) with a total figure cited at $177,429,000; Senator Cook and others offered a merit‑based substitute that included different ceilings and distribution rules; the governor’s motion was presented separately.

Debate focused on competing philosophies—flat dollar adjustments to meet lower‑paid workers’ needs versus merit‑based increases to reward high performers. Senator Woodward said a flat approach can become “the notion of a participation trophy,” arguing for merit elements. Senator Cook and others emphasized merit as a retention and recruitment tool; Cook urged members to consider merit‑based pay and described existing HR safeguards to limit favoritism.

Representatives and senators also discussed distributional details that affect school districts and localities. Senator Ward Engelking cautioned that many school districts do not have insurance reserves and that the actual cost for district employee benefits is closer to the governor’s numbers; Mr. Bybee explained methodology used to calculate fund splits by agency and the treatment of community colleges and special programs.

Several motions were put to roll call votes during the meeting; none achieved the required outcome under the committee’s joint voting procedures. Committee members noted procedural questions about whether the committee should count majorities of members present or of the full committee; staff located a 2023 letter describing the joint voting procedure used in recent years and the committee adhered to its precedent for today’s votes. After multiple roll calls and opportunities to change votes, committee chairs announced that no CEC motion passed and that the committee would “come back to this issue at a future date.”

Because no single CEC motion passed, no single compensation package was adopted and no dollar amounts will be enacted from this session’s CEC debate until the committee returns to the issue.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee Meeting January 31, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lawmakers debated four change‑in‑employee‑compensation packages for FY2026 — including flat dollar, merit and governor‑recommended percentage options — but the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee did not approve any and will revisit the issue.","taxTitle","Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, JOINT, Committees, Legislative, Idaho","taxId",28593,"location","Idaho","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6358605,"Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee raises health‑insurance funding to $14,130 per FTE for FY2026",1379,49000,1428000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2212108-5634a57b04cde6a414e777b89ed77d4e&start=49&end=1428","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2212108-5634a57b04cde6a414e777b89ed77d4e/thumbnail_49000.jpg","/articles/6358605/Idaho/Joint-Finance-Appropriations-Committee-raises-healthinsurance-funding-to-14130-per-FTE-for-FY2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358605-e3c366f40e5c0f8f7386e08b5eedc57d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142254&Signature=S9Fy8YA9UaR5EcFTRH9~68XRVO~7fcPkh1UPqecWR3UEU0OTIWURzn7hcs8VvbwCevuO8YZIUzwldzOEz1oA6MAr5~gnJC-Y5kQQz-4NTksYhizhCHxmhgqxu1v-5gpVI~3FZs4x2Y4OCywj7VxVQ4aHlL0cpkLh1L7D5N0OWWmdrttoigNPoldlAfrWCCv~5oGqTR5VGKSKhVEQDofE3fPtb0Py0X6c-ZVKv57Josbrd0HN8nBK7ey-OSNrFvJjXbeaI~SMtKrrnRxhKigVibaiLpozVJasurJ4k~sLfHCXVQla4otgzSJWWzNJKYRsHHtOpn1u7T6iVBFnMDmcWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Friday, Jan. 31, approved increasing the appropriation for state employee health insurance to $14,130 per eligible full‑time equivalent for fiscal year 2026, a change the committee said will raise appropriations by $36,043,900 from the general fund, $8,599,500 from dedicated funds and $3,753,800 from federal funds, for a total of $48,397,200.

The vote followed debate among three competing proposals for the per‑FTE health insurance allowance. Committee analyst Mr. Bybee described the three dollar proposals and said “the most significant adjustment in these personnel benefit cost increases is of course the health insurance that I just described.” The committee chose the $14,130 figure after members raised concerns about how reserve balances and prior decisions to “buy down” premiums affect year‑to‑year comparisons.

Lawmakers who argued for funding at the higher governor‑recommended figure said the level better reflects current insurer costs and avoids obscuring future increases by drawing down reserves. Senator Ward Engelking said the governor’s figure “reflects the actual cost of insurance,” and warned that repeatedly using reserves to lower the premium in one year makes next year’s increase look larger than it really is. Representative Furness said the actuarial firm Milliman has tended to be conservative in its projections: “they have consistently been too conservative. And in my business and practice, we fight with actuaries all the time.”

Analysts provided projected reserve balances associated with the different proposals. Mr. Bybee said the $13,960 proposal projected an ending reserve balance for FY2026 of about $51,600,000, while the $14,300 governor recommendation projected about $61,400,000; the midpoint option would fall between those amounts.

Roll calls showed separate tallies for House and Senate members under the committee’s joint voting procedure. The Senate voted 8 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent or excused; the House voted 9 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent or excused, producing a combined total of 17 ayes, 0 nays, 3 absent or excused. The committee’s chair announced the motion passed and “without objection will carry a due pass recommendation.”

The committee also considered, and rejected, an amended substitute motion that would have set the per‑FTE funding at $13,960. That amended substitute failed on a roll call earlier in the meeting.

The committee said it will move the due‑pass recommendation forward as part of the larger budget process. No changes to benefit plan structure were adopted in this vote; separate language on maintaining the current health insurance plan structure and benefits was accepted by unanimous consent earlier in the session and will be reflected in committee documents.","On Jan. 31 the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee approved increasing state health‑insurance funding to $14,130 per full‑time equivalent for fiscal year 2026, adding roughly $48.4 million across general, dedicated and federal funds after debate over reserve balances and actuarial projections.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee deadlocks on CEC pay proposals; four alternative compensation packages fail to pass

Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee raises health‑insurance funding to $14,130 per FTE for FY2026