Because an IDL Team Member Asked for It...
Early this winter in Moscow at IDL's All Staff Meeting, team members learned of Director Miller's penchant for corny dad jokes. Feedback from the event revealed his repertoire of jokes needed help.
After an anonymous critic graciously sent the Director an outstanding compilation of highly entertaining and extremely corny dad jokes, he said, "well, they asked for it."
At least for awhile, you now must endure his bi-weekly virtual stand up comedy routine!
Director Miller's Favorite Dad Joke This Week:
Q: How do you find your dog if it's lost in the woods?
A: You put your ear up to a tree and listen for the bark!
|
18,000 Acres of New Endowment Land Benefits Public Schools, Supports Idaho’s Economy and Preserves Recreation
IDL announced it purchased 18,047 acres of timberland spread across five north Idaho counties. Beyond generating ongoing revenue for endowment beneficiaries, this acquisition keeps working forests working, supports the forest products sector of Idaho’s economy and preserves recreation for the public. This purchase was authorized by the State Board of Land Commissioners (Land Board) in November of 2022.
In the $50.4 million deal IDL acquired 6,222 acres in Shoshone County, 4,563 acres in Benewah County, 4,005 acres in Bonner County, 3,216 acres in Boundary County and 40 acres in Kootenai County on behalf of the Public School, Normal School and State Hospital South endowments. Almost 84% of the land acquired benefits Idaho’s public schools.
The timberland was managed by Molpus Woodlands Group, LLC, an investment management company and sold through a competitive sealed bid process.
IDL expects the newly acquired lands to positively impact its long-term timber sale volumes and revenue. The new lands feature a younger age-class of trees which means more of the endowment’s mature timber can be harvested in the near term while also allowing us to increase our timber sale volumes into the future.
The full impact on future endowment timber sale volume and revenue across all endowment timberland will be modeled in 2024 when IDL's Forest Asset Management Plan (FAMP) is scheduled for its next update.
While endowment land is not subject to taxation, the impacts of the acquisition on affected counties are limited. Records show property taxes on the acquired lands totaled $46,138 in 2022, or about $2.56 per acre.
IDL Presentation to JFAC
Director Miller presented IDL's budget to JFAC last Friday with Division Administrators Donna Caldwell and Craig Foss present for questions.
IDL's decision units include a number requests to modernize the fire management program:
- Re-establish the Cottonwood Fire Protective District in Eastern Idaho with equipment and staff
- Strategically locate additional 5 new engines and 15 crew members to decrease response times
- Add a new fire zone manager in southern Idaho to guide efficient
resource allocation
- Procure vital equipment including radio repeaters and mountaintop detection cameras
Other decision units include:
- One full time position to administer IDL’s Forest Legacy Program (FLP) that allows private landowners to voluntarily sell the development rights of their timberland, monetizing a portion of their holdings today while ensuring the land forever remains as working forests that produce sawlogs and fiber for industry.
Committee members asked thoughtful questions about IDL's fire management requests, as well as questions regarding the requests for seasonal housing and scaling.
Rulemaking Presentations
On Monday IDL presented two sets of proposed rule changes to the Senate Environment & Resources Committee.
Information about IDL's rulemaking and proposed legislation is available on our 2023 Legislative Priorities webpage.
Rules for Selling Forest Products on State-Owned Endowment Lands
IDAPA 20.02.14 - Pending Rule
The Rules for Selling Forest Products on State-Owned Endowment Lands (IDAPA 20.02.14) apply to purchasers of state endowment timber sales and forest products.
This administrative rule establishes a consistent process for selling forest products from state endowment lands by setting minimum requirements for timber sale auctions, initial deposits and bonding, stumpage and interest payments, and timber sale cancellation and termination.
Status Report
- The Senate Resources and Environment Committee heard these rules on Monday, January 23, at 1:30 p.m.
- The House Resources and Conservation will hear these rules on Tuesday, January 31, at 1:30 pm in Room WW40
Rules Governing Leases on State-Owned Navigable Waterways
IDAPA 20.03.17 - Pending Fee Rule
The Rules Governing Leases on State-Owned Submerged Lands and Formerly Submerged Lands (IDAPA 20.03.17) establish a consistent process to authorize specific encroachments on state-owned submerged lands and collect annual rent for their use. These uses typically include marinas, community docks, non-navigational encroachments, and oversized private docks that occupy the state’s lakes.
This lease program is funded by the Navigable Waterways Fund, a state dedicated fund. As a dedicated fund, those who benefit from this program pay for the services it provides. This rulemaking increases application and assignment fees to cover the actual administrative costs of processing submerged land leases.
Current lease holders will not be affected by this fee increase now, but applicants for new leases and those seeking to renew expiring leases in the future will pay increased fees. No fiscal impact to the General Fund is anticipated.
-
Status Report
- The Senate Resources and Environment Committee heard these rules on Monday, January 23, at 1:30 p.m.
- The House Resources and Conservation will hear these rules on Tuesday, January 31, at 1:30 pm in Room WW40
Bonus Dad Joke
Because you've made it this far into the newsletter, Director Miller wants to reward you with a bonus dad joke.
Q: If a logger went on an cruise ship, what kind of saw could he use to cut the ocean?
A: A seasaw.
CEC Update
Each year Idaho's Division of Human Resources publishes a Change in Employee Compensation and Benefits Report. This year's report, which is nearly 200 pages long, provides much of the data legislators need to make decisions that impact state employee compensation. It also provides policymakers with recommendations.
Here are two relevant sections from the report:
Impact of FY 2023 CEC
In FY 2023, the Idaho Legislature awarded the highest Change in Employee Compensation in Idaho’s history, with average employee wages by job up over 8% overall, while individuals making under $20 per hour had an increase in wages of about 16% last year. Governor Little and the Legislature fully funded an upward 3% salary structure move, allocated $1.25 per hour for merit-based increases, approved current payline exceptions for FY 2023, and maintained the State’s employee benefits package funding.
FY 2024 CEC Recommendations
Due to funding limitations, the Division of Human Resources (“DHR”) is recommending a two-year strategy to adopt the salary structure recommendations. For FY 2024, DHR recommends the following:
1) Fund a 4% merit-based increase for all permanent positions to recognize and reward state employees in the performance of public service to the citizens of Idaho;
2) Fund a 6% equity adjustment (in addition to the recommended merit) for public safety positions assigned to the new Public Safety Salary Structure being implemented by DHR in 2023;
3) Fund the cost to move employees falling below their new pay grade minimum for positions assigned to the Core Salary Structure being implemented by DHR in 2023. (An additional 4.5% merit-based increase is included in the FY 2025 recommendations to finalize the Core Salary Structure changes.);
4) Fund the cost to move employees falling below their new pay grade minimum for positions assigned to the Nursing/Healthcare Salary Structure being implemented by DHR in 2023. (An additional 4.5% merit-based increase and 5.5% equity adjustment is included in the FY 2025 recommendations below to finalize the Nursing/Healthcare Salary Structure changes.);
5) Fund the cost to move employees falling below their new pay grade minimum for positions assigned to the IT and Engineering Salary Structure being implemented by DHR in 2023. (An additional 4.5% merit-based increase and 5.5% equity adjustment is included in the FY 2025 recommendations to finalize the IT and Engineering Salary Structure changes.)
|
CEC Related Legislative Hearings
Find more information about these CEC-related hearing in this week's edition of IDL's Legislative Update newsletter.
-
1/04/23 – 9 am – 12:30 pm, CEC Committee Meeting – Recording Link
-
1/11/23 – Canceled, CEC Committee Meeting
-
1/18/23 – 12 pm, CEC Committee Meeting – Recording Link
-
1/25/23 – Canceled, JFAC Special Hearing – Compensation Study, will be rescheduled
-
-
2/07/23 – DHR JFAC presentation
Legislation We're Monitoring
Although these bills are not sponsored by IDL, we are monitoring them as they may impact our agency. For more information about the bills listed below, check out this week's edition of IDL's Legislative Update newsletter.
This legislation adds to existing law to prohibit state agencies from donating to or sponsoring a nongovernmental event or organization, to provide exceptions, and to provide a penalty.
This legislation amends existing law to provide for advancements in pay based on certain factors and to provide for retention bonuses in certain circumstances.
This legislation amends existing law to revise the definition of “overtime work.”
This legislation repeals the existing code that requires rules for state agencies to manage the acquisition, rental, tax status, and record-keeping for state-owned dwellings. The rules duplicate various statutes.
Employees Leaving IDL
We wish departing team members the very best in their new endeavors.
- Tyler Groth, Cataldo Forest Protective District
In Case You Missed It
Here's a recap of other recent IDL newsletters you may find interesting:
One Team One Voice Newsletter Archive
Did you miss some important news? Are you curious about knowing what's happening across IDL? Our One Team, One Voice webpage contains an archive of IDL's newsletters covering:
|
