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Idaho State Police outlines budget requests, staffing shortfalls and new forensic and fentanyl initiatives
Summary
Colonel Bill Gardner and budget staff briefed the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on ISP’s FY2026 requests, including a fentanyl interdiction unit, forensic staffing, a housing supplemental for remote posts, an HDA fund shift, IT consolidation, and concerns about trooper vacancies and pay competitiveness.
The Idaho State Police presented its FY2026 budget requests and described operational pressures, staffing shortages and several program and capital requests during the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee meeting on Feb. 12.
Noah Peterson, budget policy analyst for the Legislative Services Office, reviewed the division’s budget structure and highlighted major items in ISP’s request, including a 10‑position, $1,043,300 enhancement for a fentanyl trafficking unit; conversion of several forensic contractors to full‑time staff; a proposed transfer of roughly $4,995,500 and 37.48 FTP from the Law Enforcement Fund because of changes in the Highway Distribution Account; and a supplemental request of $268,100 for a remote housing unit originally planned for Mackay but moved to Fairfield with no change in cost.
Colonel Bill Gardner, director of the Idaho State Police, described the operational need driving the requests and emphasized staffing shortfalls in many parts of the state. "Over the last year, we've seized over 65,000…
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