RS31645 / H0713

JFAC approved a Statewide Decision for CEC for FY 2025 of a 1% across-the-board increase, plus an additional 2% merit-based raise, for permanent employees of the state. Judicial Salaries must be separately established by the Legislature and are set forth in section 59-502, Idaho Code, which also indexes such salaries to a Supreme Court Justice’s salary to avoid salary compression between the four types of judgeships. To accomplish the intent of both the budget process as well as the salary statute, a 3% increase to the current Magistrate Judge salary is first calculated. This calculation results in a $4,296 salary increase, which is then added to the Supreme Court Justice salary so as to maintain the salary differentials currently existing in section 59-502, Idaho Code. This results in a $4,296 salary increase per judicial officer. This bill sets the annual salary of a justice of the Supreme Court at $169,508, which is a 2.6% increase of their current salary. As set forth in Idaho Code, the difference between the salary of a Supreme Court Justice and a Court of Appeals Judge remains at $8,000 (resulting in a 2.7% salary increase for Court of Appeals Judges); the difference between the salary of a Court of Appeals Judge and a District Judge remains at $6,000 (resulting in a 2.8% salary increase for District Judges); and the difference between the salary of a District Judge and a Magistrate Judge remains at $8,000 (resulting in a 3.0% salary increase for Magistrate Judges. If a judge elects to retire and does so at a time other than at the conclusion of his term of office, the judicial vacancy created shall remain vacant until a qualified candidate is successfully elected during the next available judicial election.

The total annual fiscal impact for increase in salary and associated benefits, which are paid from the general fund, is $958,741.

Bill Text

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Note

Bill on Idaho Legislature site