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POST requests staff conversion and replacement items as dedicated fund pressures continue; working group to review basic training
Summary
Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) officials told the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee that dedicated‑fund revenues have fluctuated, collections of training repayment have risen, and POST requests a technical records specialist and vehicle/IT replacements while a council working group studies future basic training delivery.
Brad Johnson, administrator of Peace Officer Standards and Training, and Legislative Services analyst Noah Peterson briefed the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Feb. 12 on POST’s budget, revenue sources and FY2026 requests.
Peterson summarized POST revenue: court fines and fees, fingerprinting and filing fees, educational and dormitory fees, and a liquor‑fund transfer established by statute. He noted the Peace Officer Standards and Training Fund has received liquor‑fund transfers beginning in fiscal year 2023 (about $620,000 in FY23 and $804,300 in FY24). He said POST has relied in recent years on occasional general fund one‑time transfers when dedicated revenues were insufficient to meet rising costs.
Johnson described program activity and backlog issues. POST has 30.67 FTP allocated and reported two vacancies as of August of the prior year. He said certification processing times have lengthened from two to four weeks several years ago to three to six months during recent peak periods. To address workload, POST requested converting a part‑time technical records specialist to a full‑time position (net addition of 0.33 FTP; $20,800 in personnel costs).
Replacement items requested include a 15‑passenger van and a half‑ton pickup (one‑time $111,600) and IT replacements recommended by OITS ($61,600 for laptops, desktops and monitors). Peterson said the van (acquired in 2001) is used primarily to transport students to off‑campus training and that continued use has justified replacement.
On training costs and collections, Johnson explained POST requires students to sign two‑year agreements: if a newly trained officer leaves a certified position within two years, the trainee may owe the cost of training. He told the committee that POST began using a collections agency in recent years and that improved collection activity explains rising ‘‘miscellaneous revenue’’ categories related to repayment agreements; he gave an example that a patrol academy training cost is roughly $12,000 per student and academies range from two weeks (emergency communications) to 14 weeks (patrol).
The post council has formed a working group to develop a strategic plan for statewide basic training delivery, including college‑based programs and potential new training tracks such as the request from North Idaho College. Johnson said the working group aims to present a plan to the legislature within about a year.
No formal committee action was recorded; POST and LSO said they would provide requested breakdowns of tuition and collections figures to committee members who asked follow‑up questions.
