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New State Public Defender asks for supplements, ongoing funding as caseloads and costs exceed initial estimates
Summary
The newly formed Idaho State Public Defender office told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee it needs supplemental and ongoing funding—including use of a $39 million cash transfer—citing higher caseloads, transcript costs and county transitions into the statewide system.
Christopher Lahoset, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, presented the budget for the newly created State Public Defender and walked the committee through multiple requests: a one‑time supplemental to allow spending of a previously authorized cash transfer, additional transcript funding following a state Supreme Court ruling, and several ongoing operating and personnel enhancements.
Lahoset said the office was created under “Title 19, Chapter 60, Section 3 of Idaho Code,” that the agency had 360 authorized full‑time positions with 29 vacancies as of December 18, and that a primary dedicated funding source is a state public defense fund seeded by a $39 million transfer from the tax relief fund. He told the committee the agency is requesting a one‑time FY2025 supplemental of $2.5 million to fully utilize the $39 million cash transfer and additional one‑time and…
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