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Military division asks JFAC for supplemental funds to clear vehicle backlog, modernize public‑safety communications and equip regional hazmat teams
Summary
The Idaho Military Division requested supplemental funding to finish communications equipment installations in law‑enforcement vehicles, upgrade IT/security for public‑safety communications, and distribute $8.6 million for regional hazardous‑materials teams; the adjutant general and staff described the timing and execution plans for the requests.
Frances Lippett, a legislative services analyst, reviewed the Military Division’s budget to the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee and identified supplemental and enhancement requests including equipment installation, IT infrastructure and regional hazardous‑materials support.
Major General Tim Donilon, the adjutant general for Idaho, described an operational urgency behind the vehicle and communications work. "We got a flood of them at one time," Donilon said of vehicles that arrived without critical communications equipment after a years‑long chip shortage. He told the committee the division plans to use a contractor to clear the backlog and to expand installation capacity with additional bays so installations can proceed concurrently.
Why it matters: the Military Division operates the state’s National Guard programs, public‑safety communications, and the Office of Emergency Management. The supplemental requests aim to restore vehicle readiness for Idaho State Police and other users, separate public‑safety microwave networks from the statewide ITS network for security, and replace decades‑old regional hazmat equipment.
Key requests and explanations
- Vehicle installations and bays: The governor’s supplemental included funding to install communications equipment in 40 Dodge Durangos owned by Idaho State Police; estimated private‑contract installation costs were cited at about $240,000 with construction to add installation bays estimated at $300,000. Donilon said contractors will be used to clear the backlog quickly and additional bays will reduce future backlogs by enabling concurrent work.
- IT infrastructure and network separation: The governor recommended $759,200 for IT infrastructure and licensing to modernize servers and to establish a public‑safety communications network independent of the state ITS network for security reasons. Donilon said the department is separating the public‑safety microwave network from ITS and needs hardware and installation work to complete that transition.
- Regional hazardous‑materials funding: The governor recommended an $8.6 million appropriation, via cash transfer from the State Emergency Relief Fund, to allow the Office of Emergency Management to provide funds to seven regional hazmat response teams to replace equipment the division said has not been updated since about 2005. Major General Donilon cited the 2022 propane incident on Highway 95 as an example of an event that strained existing equipment and response capability.
- Deficiency warrant and other items: Lippett noted a FY2024 hazardous‑substance response deficiency warrant request of $34,200 for costs the division could not recoup from incident originators. The governor’s recommendation also included IT hardware replacement and public‑safety communications support.
Implementation questions and committee follow‑up
Committee members asked why the items were submitted as supplementals rather than FY2026 enhancements. Major General Donilon and staff explained the immediacy of vehicle use and installation backlogs justified supplemental timing and said they expect to be able to execute much of the work in the current fiscal year. Lawmakers also questioned use of contractors versus in‑house work. Donilon said contractor installations often required subsequent in‑house quality control because some contractor work did not meet Idaho technical standards.
Hazmat teams and regional structure
Donilon said Idaho maintains seven regional hazmat teams, and the division plans to procure and distribute modern equipment to those teams through the Office of Emergency Management. The Major General said the teams’ equipment was largely purchased in the mid‑2000s and needs replacement to protect responders and the public.
Other topics covered
The division updated the panel on staffing and vacancies in federal/state programs (about 38 vacancies, with 28 actively in the hiring process) and summarized the federally funded Youth Challenge residential program for at‑risk high‑school‑age youth. No formal vote was taken during the hearing.
Next steps
Analysts and division staff indicated they would provide any additional financial or schedule details requested by committee members; the division will proceed with procurement and contractual work contingent on appropriation decisions.
