DOPL reports audit findings, cash‑balance plan and inspector pay request as licensing workload grows

BOISE — The Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Feb. 6 it is working to resolve an open audit finding about excess cash balances, while asking for targeted pay adjustments and one‑time vehicle and hardware funding to address inspection vacancies and turnover.

Kellen McGurkin, budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, summarized the agency’s FY 2021–2026 budget trends and noted DOPL was created by House Bill 318 (2020) and consolidated 11 previously separate agencies into one division. McGurkin said DOPL now administers 45 boards and commissions and manages tens of millions in receipts and transfers for individual board cash balances. He reported, based on materials provided to the committee, roughly 200,000 licensees were overseen by the division as of July 2024; Administrator Russell (Russ) Baron later told the committee licensee counts are ‘‘creeping up’’ and are approaching about…