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Idaho State Police seeks funds for fentanyl response, lab expansion and to shore up trooper ranks; director warns of staffing shortfalls
Summary
During a budget review, Idaho State Police requested staff and funding for fentanyl interdiction, forensic capacity, a housing unit for remote troopers and a transfer to replace shrinking highway distribution revenues; Director Bill Gardner warned of trooper vacancies and urged action to retain officers.
Idaho State Police officials outlined multiple budget requests and operational pressures during a Feb. 12 Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee hearing, seeking staffing and funding to maintain patrol operations, expand forensic capacity and bolster responses to fentanyl trafficking.
Budget analyst Noah Peterson reviewed the agency's fiscal requests, including a proposed transfer of $4,995,500 and 37.48 full‑time positions in fiscal year 2026 to replace diminishing Highway Distribution Account (HDA) support for the Law Enforcement Fund. Peterson said the change responds to a statutory phase‑down from Senate Bill 1201 (2019) that reduced HDA transfers to law enforcement and will be necessary "if this shift is to be approved, this would allow the patrol program to maintain current operations."
The agency requested multiple enhancements for fiscal 2026: two fleet service positions to convert contractor work to state…
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