Funding approved for elected officials' pay raise

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The funding for a bill to increase elected officials' pay squeaked through the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee Friday.

The 10-9 vote allocates $22,200 in general fund money to hand raises to Idaho's top officials.

That includes an ongoing yearly raise of 2.5 percent for the governor, secretary of state, treasurer, controller and superintendent of schools.

That didn't sit will with some lawmakers, who opposed officials getting bigger pay jumps than state employees.

Dover Republican Rep. George Eskridge was among those who said it's unfair to the state's other workers, who get no such guarantee going forward.

Pocatello Democrat Sen. Roy Lacey argued officials' wages needed to go up to attract the "best and brightest" to serve Idaho.

The measure passed the Senate Thursday, and will now be heard in the House.