Department of Finance requests six examiners to bolster cybersecurity, governor approves all but two

The Idaho Department of Finance requested six new full‑time positions and $816,600 from state regulatory funds during a Jan. 21 Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee hearing, citing growing cybersecurity threats and increased fraud investigations. The governor’s recommendation endorsed the department’s enhancement package except for two investigator positions proposed for the Consumer Finance Bureau.

The request, presented by Noah Peterson, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, seeks six ongoing FTPs and associated salary and operating costs. Director Patty Perkins told the committee the department has increased focus on cybercrime, particularly fraud targeting older Idahoans, and said additional investigative capacity is needed to keep pace with complex digital schemes.

The enhancement package would add an information‑technology examiner and a financial examiner for the Financial Institutions Bureau (each budgeted at $121,300, salary grade P), two financial investigator‑3 positions focused on IT examinations (budgeted at $82,500 each, grade M), an…