Idaho Legal Aid asks Bannock County to consider local funding as federal support faces uncertainty

Carl Lewis, managing attorney for the Pocatello office of Idaho Legal Aid, briefed the Bannock County Board of Commissioners on the role and funding of Idaho Legal Aid. Lewis described the organization as a civil legal services provider for low-income residents — analogous to public defenders but for civil matters — and noted the Pocatello office operates with two attorneys and supports residents on landlord-tenant, benefits, and other civil disputes.

Lewis told the board the Legal Services Corporation (a federally funded corporation) provides significant nationwide funding for legal aid programs and that a proposed federal budget under the Trump administration at the time of his remarks had proposed eliminating that funding. He said the proposed change could “wipe us out” and urged local jurisdictions to consider contingency or supplemental funding options should federal funds be lost.

Commissioners responded that county finances are constrained. Commissioner Moser and others said the county was entering a budget cycle with limited discretionary funds and that multiple non-profits were seeking county support during upcoming budget hearings. Commissioners said Idaho Legal Aid could be placed in line for consideration alongside other nonprofits and encouraged Lewis to return with a more specific request if he desired local support. Lewis provided a rough Pocatello-office annual budget estimate of about $300,000 and emphasized that the national system’s total budget was approximately $516 million (figure presented as an approximate national context). No formal funding commitment was made during the meeting.