Attorney General gets small budget boost to refill 2 of 19 vacant attorney slots, halt furloughs

JFAC has set a budget for the Idaho Attorney General’s office for next year that reflects a 5.8 percent increase in state general funds and fully funds Attorney General Lawrence Wasden’s $400,000 request to refill two vacant attorney positions and head off unpaid furloughs for the coming year. The budget makes some small trims elsewhere, however, and would still leave the office with 23 vacant positions, including 17 for lawyers.

“I’m hoping with this budget that we can help the Attorney General’s office, because they do tremendous work,” said Sen. Diane Bilyeu, D-Pocatello. Added Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, “I wish this was better. Maybe next year.”

Wasden’s budget has been cut by nearly $2.4 million since 2009; the budget approved for next year is $16.5 million in state general funds, a 5.8 percent increase, and $18.7 million in total funds, which overall comes to a 4.4 percent increase. The joint committee also voted unanimously for a maintenance-level budget for the Office of the State Appellate Public Defender for next year.