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JFAC approves Idaho State Police supplemental housing, investigative staff and pay adjustments
Summary
The committee approved a package of Idaho State Police requests including a Fairfield remote housing unit, new investigative and forensics staff, a $5.2 million funding shift to the general fund, and a targeted 6% salary increase for commissioned officers and forensic staff.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved multiple Idaho State Police (ISP) budget items, including a supplemental to place a remote housing unit in Fairfield, new positions for special investigations and forensics, and a shift of $5,205,800 from the Idaho Law Enforcement Fund to the general fund.
A FY2025 supplemental of $268,100 for a permanent remote housing unit in Fairfield was approved earlier in the meeting (motion by Sen. Carlson, seconded by Rep. Handy) with a combined committee tally of 17 ayes, 2 nays and 2 absent/excused. Committee analysts said the location plan changed from the original submission; the governor had recommended the item.
Later the committee adopted the FY2026 ISP package comprising fleet conversions, a special investigations unit to investigate Idaho Department of Correction facility crimes, a forensic deputy lab manager, an ILETS disaster recovery database, internal transfers for the digital forensics team, replacement equipment (vehicles, body armor, firearms) and an IT hardware request. The motion included a targeted 6% salary increase for commissioned officers and forensic staff.
The ISP package also included a $5,205,800 shift from the Idaho Law Enforcement Fund to the general fund. The main motion for the FY2026 ISP package passed with a combined committee vote of 18 ayes, 1 nay and 1 absent/excused.
Analyst Noah Peterson told the committee that ISP had notified LSO and Division of Financial Management of changes to some submissions and that the bulk of replacement‑item costs were driven by vehicle purchases.
Committee discussion noted this was the final year for an incremental highway distribution fund shift related to ISP funding mechanics. The committee also accepted a small federal grant ($50,000) to support SORNA compliance.
Separately, the POST Academy (the training division within ISP) received approval to convert a technical records specialist from part‑time to full‑time (0.33 FTE net) and to fund replacement vehicles and IT hardware; that motion passed with a combined committee tally of 18 ayes, 1 nay and 1 absent/excused.
All adopted motions carry due‑pass recommendations and will be incorporated in the committee—s appropriation language and bills.
