ISP budget draws House debate

The budget bill for the Idaho State Police, HB 253, drew lots of debate in the House today. House Appropriations Vice Chairman Darrell Bolz, R-Caldwell, noted that the budget shows a 9 percent increase in general funds, but that’s only because of a transfer from the “Project Choice” fund to the general fund to prop up the department’s budget; without that raid on the fee-funded career ladder program for officers, it’s a 2 percent cut. The budget also includes $62,000 that Emmert International is paying for overtime for ISP troopers to accompany giant megaloads along U.S. Highway 12 from Lewiston to the Montana line.

House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, said ISP already has lots of vacancies. “We’re further taking state patrol officers off the road and using them for activities such as accompanying the big loads,” he said. “I think that we have cut below what is good and safe for the citizens of Idaho, and I think this budget is inadequate.” Rep. Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, a retired state trooper, countered, “That’s on their days off or vacation if they’re doing that … so it’s really not taking anything out of regular patrol duties at all.”

Bolz said ISP currently has 45 vacancies. Rep. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, said, “Public safety is a fundamental function of government and we’re not properly funding our state police, so I’ll be voting against this bill.” Bolz said, “We would like to do better with the state police, we’d like to do better with a lot of these agencies, but the funds are not there. The state police assured me that this will work … and they’ll continue to do the job … (and) get through this year.” The budget bill then passed on a 48-21 vote, and now moves to the Senate.