The Problem
Rural Idaho agencies, including health clinics, sheriff departments, fire stations, transportation offices, and water management posts, often face the hardest impacts from budget cuts and staffing shortages. Vacancies run high because of low pay, long distances, limited housing, and fewer applicants willing to relocate. When rural offices lose staff or resources, entire communities suffer with longer emergency response times, reduced health services, delayed infrastructure maintenance, and weaker local support. Current systems do not prioritize rural needs during hiring or budget decisions, so cuts hit rural areas disproportionately while urban offices are protected.
What I'll Do Day One as Governor
Sign an executive order to prioritize rural agency resilience using existing resources and authority. Right away:
Direct all agencies to give rural offices priority in hiring freezes, vacancy filling, and resource allocation during budget adjustments.
Require agencies to submit annual rural impact reports showing how cuts or staffing changes affect rural communities, posted on Transparent Idaho for public review.
Partner with the Department of Labor to offer rural-specific recruitment incentives, such as relocation assistance or housing stipends for critical roles (nurses, deputies, firefighters), funded by savings from other reforms.
Launch pilots in three to five rural-heavy agencies (such as Health and Welfare rural clinics, rural sheriff departments, and Water Resources field offices) to test priority hiring and impact reporting, with results posted in ninety days.
Use savings from Budget Allocation, State Procurement and Contracts, and Agency Performance Audits reforms to support rural pay differentials and retention bonuses (no new spending).
This uses powers I already have under executive oversight of state agencies and existing personnel and budget management statutes. No new laws needed first.
How This Is Different From Now
Right now, rural agencies are often the first to lose staff and funding during cuts because there is no formal priority or impact assessment. Urban offices receive more attention and resources, leaving rural communities underserved. This way creates explicit rural protection rules, public reporting of impacts, and targeted incentives. It enforces existing personnel and budget policies more fairly, ensures rural needs are not overlooked, and redirects savings to keep rural services strong.
What I'll Push the Legislature For
Easy laws to make it permanent:
Require rural impact assessments for any proposed budget cuts or staffing reductions affecting rural offices.
Authorize rural-specific pay differentials and relocation incentives for critical roles, funded by savings from efficiency reforms.
Mandate annual public reporting of rural agency vacancies, service levels, and resource allocation on Transparent Idaho.
Give rural agencies priority in hiring and resource distribution during statewide adjustments.
No big new spending. All incentives and support are funded by savings from waste-cutting reforms.
How We'll Check It Works
We will keep it honest with:
Public postings on Transparent Idaho showing rural agency vacancies, staffing levels, service metrics, and impact reports.
Regular audits of rural priority compliance and incentive use.
Citizens Task Force to review rural reports, take input from rural communities and employees, and recommend adjustments.
Yearly report showing reductions in rural vacancies, improvements in service delivery (such as response times and clinic hours), and savings redirected to rural needs.
Everything open for anyone to look at and ask about.
Answers to Common Questions
Won't this favor rural areas over urban ones?
No. The focus is on fairness. Urban agencies already have advantages in hiring and resources. This simply levels the field so rural communities do not bear the brunt of cuts.
How do we pay for rural incentives without raising taxes?
All incentives are funded by savings from Budget Allocation, Procurement and Contracts, and Audits reforms. No new taxes or spending are required.
What if rural vacancies are due to factors beyond pay?
The initiative includes relocation assistance and housing stipends to address distance and living costs. Citizen input and audits help identify and fix other barriers.
Does this cost taxpayers more overall?
No. Rural offices with full staffing deliver better services and reduce long-term costs (such as overtime or emergency outsourcing). Savings from other reforms cover the incentives.
How does this connect to the budget reform?
Budget reform protects frontline services from blind cuts. This initiative ensures rural offices get priority within that protection.
How does this connect to workforce and hiring reform?
Workforce reform simplifies hiring and offers incentives statewide. This adds rural-specific priorities and supports (relocation help) to make hiring successful in remote areas.
How does this connect to agency performance audits?
Audits identify rural service gaps and inefficiencies. Findings guide rural priority decisions and ensure incentives are used effectively.
What about small rural agencies with unique needs?
The Citizens Task Force includes rural voices. Audits and reports scale to agency size, ensuring small offices are not overlooked.
How will we know if it is working?
Public reports on Transparent Idaho will track rural vacancies, service improvements (such as response times and clinic hours), and resource allocation. Citizen input helps measure real impact.
What if an agency claims rural cuts are unavoidable?
Agencies must submit impact reports and alternative savings plans. The Citizens Task Force and public posting add accountability and pressure to protect rural services.