ISU president tells JFAC university will return forensic pathology appropriation; vows stronger controls

Idaho State University President Rob Wagner told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Jan. 29 that ISU will return state-appropriated funds connected to a proposed Eastern Idaho Forensic Pathology Center and is instituting tighter tracking and accountability for legislative appropriations.

The disclosure followed an announcement at the start of the hearing that Legislative Services staff had posted a report about the lab and that an audit was being requested. Kevin Campbell, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, said a staff report is online and that an audit is now in process to determine whether laws or appropriation intent were followed.

"There is and continues to be a tremendous need in the Eastern portion of the state for a facility like that," Wagner said. He described ISU's original role as hosting the lab on its Pocatello campus and said the facility would have provided student training opportunities for health-science students. Wagner said ISU expended a "small portion" of the appropriation on a consultant but that, in mid- to late 2023, the county that planned…