Idaho Department of Finance requests six examiner and cybersecurity positions; governor backs most but omits two

The Idaho Department of Finance asked the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 21 for six new full‑time positions and one‑time capital outlay to strengthen information‑technology examinations and investigations, particularly to address rising cybercrime and fraud targeting older Idahoans.

Noah Peterson, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee the Department requested an ongoing increase of six full‑time positions costing $816,600 from state regulatory funds and $52,600 in one‑time OITS hardware recommended by the Office of Information Technology Services. Peterson said the governor recommended the agency’s requests “with the exception of line item 3,” referring to two Financial Investigator 3 positions requested for the Consumer Finance Bureau.

The requested positions include an IT examiner for the Financial Institutions Bureau (salary at 100% of policy, $121,300), a non‑IT financial examiner ($121,300), two Financial Investigator 3 positions focused on IT…