Leader Seeks $2.3 Million To Keep State Police Afloat

The financial hemorrhaging of the Idaho State Police became evident to legislative budget writers Friday as Law Enforcement Director Bob Sobba pressed them for another $2.3 million in general tax money to keep the agency going.

It would be the biggest diversion of general tax money to the State Police since lagging fuel-tax revenues forced the first move into the general treasury in mid-1990.

“This is definitely a continuing problem,” Sobba told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. Analysts agreed the bite out of the general fund will only get bigger in the future unless more cash is siphoned from the fuel tax for police operations.

Lawmakers and governors have recognized the problem of slowing growth in fuel tax revenues that had traditionally been used to finance state police operations. But revenue from the past two fuel tax hikes totaling seven cents a gallon has been denied the agency because of the overwhelming need to pump more cash into road improvements.

Batt has proposed more than doubling the general tax support to $4.6 million in the $23.5 million budget that keeps 195 officers on duty. Without the shift, Batt said 19 officers would have to be cut.

While lawmakers pressed Sobba for explanations of why more officers are not on the roads, he said the need will only increase for extra general tax money just to keep existing operations intact.

“If they want more officers … they either have to increase the dedicated (fuel tax) fund or it has to come out of the general account,” Sobba said.