Idaho Appellate Public Defender Seeks Deputy Position to Reduce Contract Costs

The Idaho Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard on the appellate public defender budget, where Legislative Services analyst Christopher Lahoset outlined staffing, recent appropriations and a new staffing request aimed at reducing contract costs.

The office has an authorized 26 full-time positions and, as of the analyst's report, had no vacancies as of Dec. 15. The office reported an average personnel appropriation over the last five years just under $2,800,000 and that roughly 95% of the personnel appropriation is being used for personnel expenses. Lahoset told the committee the office is requesting an additional deputy state appellate public defender position and associated funding; the analyst summarized the agency's estimate that contracting overflow cases costs about $254,000 per year while hiring a deputy at a…