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Special Investigation Unit budget remains largely flat; department converted contractor post to permanent staff
Summary
The department told the committee that the SIU budget is a pass-through for 12 local SIU grants, staffing and law enforcement partner shortages pose the main risk, and a contracted support position was converted into a permanent central-office hire.
Montpelier — Department officials told the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 13 that the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) budget for FY26 is largely static and serves as a pass-through for grants to 12 locally run SIUs, but that staffing and law enforcement partner shortages are constraining investigations.
Annie Noonan described the SIU budget as “a pass through budget for grant administration.” The SIUs, created after high-profile child-abuse cases, focus on serious child abuse, sexual assault, and vulnerable-adult abuse investigations and operate with local boards and law enforcement partners. The department said it monitors staffing plans and law enforcement partnerships before awarding grants.
Noonan said the most substantive change in recent years was ending a contracted support role at central office and reallocating that funding to a permanent position; the department hired Siri Rooney, a 25-year victim advocate, into that role to provide a consistent connection between SIU directors and the department. The FY26 packet includes a 2.7% increase largely to cover internal service and agency fees, the department said.
Committee members were told the SIUs’ biggest operational challenge is securing dedicated law enforcement hours, as fewer people are entering law enforcement statewide and nationwide. No formal funding changes were adopted at the hearing; the SIU request was presented for the committee’s FY26 consideration.
