On a 16-2 vote, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has approved legislation to raise salaries for Idaho’s PUC, Tax Commission and Industrial Commission commissioners by 3 percent next year. That matches the funding for merit increases for state employees that’s being covered in state agency budgets; commissioners’ salaries are set in statute, so they have to be addressed separately.

Public utilities commissioners’ salaries would rise from $97,799 to $100,733; tax commissioner salaries would rise from $90,669 to $93,389; and industrial commissioners’ salaries would rise from $95,193 to $98,049. The raises will cost the state $10,400 from the state general fund and $23,900 from dedicated funds, for a total of $34,300 for the 10 commissioners.

Sens. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, and Jim Guthrie, R-McCammon, were the two dissenters.