VIDEO: Gov. Little’s State of the State and Budget Address
 For the first time, I incorporated a video into my traditional State of the State and Budget Address on Monday.
In case you missed it, my full speech, including the video segment, can be found online by clicking the "WATCH NOW" button below!
My IDAHO WORKS budget proposal is the most conservative budget recommendation since the Great Recession - just 2.2% General Fund growth. When you look at the TOTAL budget, I'm proposing to spend $200 million less this year than last year.
My IDAHO WORKS budget positions Idaho for continued success by reining in spending while making meaningful investments in public schools and infrastructure while delivering even more tax relief.
READ: Little outlines legislative agenda
What Idaho is doing is working. Tax relief. Schools. Water. Transportation. Public safety. It’s time to raise the bar.
"Idaho Gov. Brad Little kicked off the 2024 legislative session with the State of the State and budget address Monday.
Education continues to be a top priority for Little, who shared some of the success from last year’s implementation of the Idaho LAUNCH grant program.
“The interest in LAUNCH far exceeded everyone’s expectations, and we’re excited for these young Idahoans,” Little said.
Little unveiled, “Idaho Works,” his plan to strengthen Idaho’s water and transportation infrastructure as well as a 2-billion-dollar investment over the next ten years for school facilities and unmet capital construction needs.
Gov. Little says “Idaho Works” will be addressing various student-related issues by doubling the funding for school advisors and recommending a new Statewide Student Behavioral Health Initiative for additional suicide prevention.
“Idaho Works” also aims to curb human trafficking by sending two teams of Idaho State Police troopers to our “lawless southern border” to be trained on better tactics to respond to human traffickers as well as acting as a force multiplier. Little expects that the state troopers will return to Idaho with a greater knowledge on how to stop human trafficking in Idaho, as well as the skill set to train their fellow law enforcement colleagues.
Human trafficking is not the only concern facing our community explained Little.
The “Idaho Works” plan also works to revitalize Idaho infrastructure- specifically concerning the repair or replacement of the last third of Idaho’s bridges. Little said 900 bridges in Idaho have been rated poor or predate the moon landing.
“We have put $400 million into this effort in the past few years, and it’s time to buckle up and finish the job,” he added.
Little said that by continuing to invest in transportation, particularly in rural areas, commerce will be more easily facilitated and provide property tax relief. He believes that by prioritizing transportation projects now, Idahoans will benefit for generations to come."
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Idaho LAUNCH applications blow past expectations
Last week, Lt. Governor Scott Bedke and I announced the astounding results of the initial application period for the Idaho LAUNCH grants, the state’s expanded grant program that provides new opportunities for graduating high school seniors to pursue in-demand careers.
As of December 28, there were 12,588 high school seniors who submitted or started applications for LAUNCH grants. Around 7,500 applications were expected, and applications continue to come in.
LAUNCH offers graduating high school seniors grants that cover 80 percent, up to $8,000, of the cost to enroll in an education or training program after high school that leads to an in-demand career.
The interest in LAUNCH truly blew us away. Clearly, Idahoans support opportunities for our young people to enter professions that drive our economy. We’ve always provided support for the careers that require a four-year university degree, but LAUNCH expanded that support to include skilled workers. These are lucrative, rewarding jobs that make our world go ‘round. We don’t want to import workers from other places. We want IDAHO kids to STAY in IDAHO.
Top programs of interest include:
- Healthcare technicians
- Nursing
- Engineering
- Biology
- Teaching
- Business Administration, Management
- Information Technology
- Welding
- Business, general
- Cosmetology
- Law enforcement
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IDAHO FIRST SUCCESS: Average teacher salaries jump by 9.1% this year
 We brought Idaho up from the bottom 10 nationally to the near-TOP 10 for starting teacher pay - AND increased pay for teachers at all levels. What we’re doing is working!
"The average teacher salary in Idaho increased by 9.1% to $61,516 this school year, according to the Idaho Department of Education.
Average salaries are up $5,151 since the 2022-23 school year. And average salaries have increased by 28% over the past 10 years, since the inception of the career ladder.
This year’s results include base salary plus extra pay, an amount determined by individual districts and charter schools. The average was calculated by dividing the total salaries paid out by districts by the state’s 17,949 full-time teachers.
The average teacher salary, without extra pay, is $60,510.
The data also shows that tiny Prairie Elementary School District increased by 41%, from $44,375 to $62,588; both Marsing and Parma saw significant increases: 28.4% and 24.9%, respectively."
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