State Aims To Stem Hi-Tech Brain-Drain

If you’re a computer specialist or techno-whiz, Boise’s the place to be. Demand is vastly outstripping the supply of those technical people down here, to the point that techies are being lured away from state agencies for higher-paying jobs at private firms.

Just in the past month and a half, a new Sears computer center opening in Boise has hired away eight techies from the state Department of Health and Welfare, and two of the six top computer programmers at the state Department of Correction.

It’s a continuing problem. Back in November, the state Information Technology Resource Management Council estimated there were 80 vacant information-technology jobs in state government. That number hasn’t shrunk.

“Many of them have been filled, and others have become vacant, so there’s just a shortage,” said Miles Browne, manager of the council’s project team. “Everybody’s feeling the pinch.”

Part of the push is to get computer systems ready to deal with the year 2000 without blowing their tops. Private firms and state agencies alike are working furiously to avoid problems when the big year rolls around.

But Browne said Boise’s healthy economy and the presence of major corporate headquarters and high-tech firms also have helped put technical types in demand. “Having those large companies in town puts us in a situation where there’s tremendous competition for those highly qualified people,” he said. “Generally when they leave, they make more money.”

With limited resources, the state council has decided to focus on training. So far, about 700 state employees have attended classes since the council was set up by the 1996 Legislature.

“We’re putting a program together that allows agencies to put people through some pretty rigorous information technology training, and bring their skills up to a level,” Browne said. But, he admitted, “We stand a chance of losing them.”

There is a risk that if the state trains its employees, they’ll leave for better jobs.

But, Brown said, it’s a risk worth taking.

“One day we were asked, ‘If I train my people, they might leave.’ We said, ‘Well, what if you don’t train them, and they stay?”’

Unusually favorable numbers

There’s no shortage of northerners on the interim legislative committees that will hash out major legislation this summer for consideration next year.

In fact, North Idaho legislators, who hold 14 percent of legislative seats, have 23 percent of the interim committee assignments.

Sen. Jack Riggs, R-Coeur d’Alene, and Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden, will co-chair the committee studying the state’s alcohol laws.

Sen. Clyde Boatright, R-Rathdrum, will co-chair the committee to study whether charities and nonprofit hospitals should keep their property tax exemptions.

And Rep. Hilde Kellogg, R-Post Falls, will co-chair the committee looking into how Idaho divides sales tax money that’s sent back to cities and counties - and whether North Idaho is getting its fair share.

Also serving on interim committees are Sens. Gordon Crow, R-Hayden; Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint; and Marguerite McLaughlin, D-Orofino; and Reps. Wayne Meyer, R-Rathdrum; Chuck Cuddy, D-Orofino; and Larry Watson, D-Wallace.

So it was all relative?

Marilyn Howard dropped a hint to the Idaho Press Club this week about how she pulled off her narrow win over favorite Wally Hedrick in the Democratic primary for state schools superintendent. She recalled the “many relatives” she has in the Mackay area of south-central Idaho, where she grew up.

“I have to thank them very much for the outcome of the primary, because many of them went, and I really believe, for the first time in their lives went to a primary and picked up a Democratic ballot.”

“Given how many first cousins I have, you’ll know it did make a difference.”