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POST outlines training fund pressures, recovery of academy costs and a plan to reexamine basic training delivery
Summary
Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) briefed JFAC on Feb. 12 about revenue pressures, rising costs for academy and cafeteria services, repayment agreements for recruits who leave within two years, and a working group to plan basic training delivery across the state.
The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Feb. 12 reviewed the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) budget and heard officials describe revenue sources, rising costs and steps being taken to modernize basic training delivery across Idaho.
"Each student that attends the academy signs a 2 year agreement in which they agree that if they leave the law enforcement profession ... they agree that they will pay back all or some portion of the training that the state has paid for," POST Administrator Brad Johnson told the committee, describing the source of "miscellaneous revenue" posted to the fund. Johnson and analysts said POST now routes uncollected agreements to a collection agency, which has increased recoveries and is a primary reason "miscellaneous" revenues have risen in recent years.
Budget analyst Noah Peterson summarized POST's revenue picture: the fund receives a range of fees including a $15 court fee for certain violations, fingerprinting and educational fees, dormitory fees and—since House Bill 469 (2022)—a 1.5% transfer of annual liquor revenues to the POST fund. Peterson noted POST had relied on several one‑time general fund transfers during recent fiscal pressure years and that the division has a modest carryover heading into FY2026 after those adjustments.
Key POST items discussed:
- Turnover repayment agreements: POST staff said the length and cost of different academies vary (patrol academies are the longest, about 14 weeks), and the patrol academy tuition is currently about $12,000; POST will provide a breakdown of tuition by program to committee members.
- Technical record specialist: POST requested converting an existing part‑time role to a 0.33 FTP full‑time equivalent and $20,800 to reduce certification turnaround for officer credentials; Peterson said turnaround times have lengthened from 2–4 weeks previously to peaks of 3–6 months.
- Replacement items: POST requested $111,600 one‑time for vehicle replacements (a half‑ton pickup with about 127,000 miles acquired in 2013 and a 15‑passenger van from 2001 with about 47,000 miles) and $61,600 for IT replacements (laptops, desktops, monitors) per OITS recommendations.
- Training delivery review: Johnson described an active POST council working group studying the statewide delivery of basic training that will evaluate college programs, agency programs and the POST academy; the working group aims to bring a plan to the legislature within about a year.
Committee members asked about enrollment trends, why recruitment declined after COVID and what could make academy careers more attractive beyond pay. Johnson said POST does not recruit officers (agencies hire and send students to POST) but noted the office is updating curriculum, adding topics such as officer wellness, and performing a job task analysis that informed a curriculum rewrite for patrol training.
There were no votes on the POST requests during the hearing. Committee members asked staff to provide the committee with tuition breakdowns and additional revenue/expenditure detail for federal and miscellaneous revenues.
