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Idaho State Police seek staffing, lab expansion and program adjustments; director stresses retention challenges
Summary
Idaho State Police presented budget requests including new fentanyl‑focused investigators, forensic lab staffing and remote housing; Director Bill Gardner highlighted recruitment and retention shortfalls and asked for legislative support to address trooper vacancies.
The Idaho State Police (ISP) outlined its fiscal 2026 budget priorities and ongoing issues to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, requesting new positions and funding adjustments while flagging persistent staffing shortages.
Noah Peterson, budget policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, reviewed ISP’s divisional structure, funds and recent appropriations. Peterson said ISP operates seven budgeted programs with a combined 583.67 FTP (full‑time positions) and cited a five‑year average fill rate of about 92.5 percent; he also walked the committee through dedicated funds including the Project Choice Fund, the Drug Enforcement Donation Fund and the Idaho Law Enforcement Telecommunications Fund (ILETS).
ISP’s enhancement requests for fiscal 2026 include a variety of staffing and technology items: 10 FTP and $1,043,300 for a fentanyl trafficking unit; conversion of forensic contract staff to full‑time positions; retention pay for forensic staff and dispatchers; two fleet…
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