Misappropriation of Idaho’s Public Funds. Idaho State University (ISU) and Bannock County misused one time appropriations of almost $1 million (11/26/24). Articles by Glenneda ZUIDERVELD and Idaho Freedom Foundation, video by Nowhere to Hyde
Nowhere to Hyde (video 10:44 includes transcript): youtube.com/live/CnEoET…
Zuiderveld article: glenneda.substack.com/p…
Idaho Freedom Foundation article (click below):
Summary from Press Release:
Senator Glenneda Zuiderveld (District 24) is demanding accountability following revelations of the misappropriation of $853,700 in state funds intended for the now-defunct East Idaho Forensic Pathology Center (EIFPC) project.
Investigations by the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) and Pocatello for Accountable Government Entities (PAGE) revealed that Idaho State University (ISU) transferred the funds to Bannock County, bypassing the requirement to return unspent appropriations to the state.
These funds appeared to be unlawfully retained and misused, violating legislative requirements and betraying public trust.
Key Demands from Sen. Zuiderveld:
Accountability for Misappropriation by ISU and Bannock County officials.
Comprehensive Investigation by Attorney General Labrador.
Immediate Return of Funds to the General Fund.
Legislative Audit of All One-Time Appropriations.
What Happend?
Zuiderveld provides succinct background information about this misuse of funds while the article by Ron Nate, President of Idaho Freedom Foundation, goes into great deal about:
What the state wanted: State Board of Education requested and received $900,000 via H776 for operating expenses to build the EIFPC on the ISU campus by renovating an existing building. The lab was to serve Bannock County by simplifying and reducing costs to conduct autopsies, and to educate ISU students and professors relating to the forensic pathology industry.
What ISU and Bannock County did: ISU never built the EIFPC lab. Thus, the appropriations for operating a non-existent lab should have reverted to the state. They did not. Instead, the money was transferred to Bannock County (post-transfer, many additional transactions, including some travel costs, meals, and equipment also were incurred).
Who was involved: Bannock County Chief of Staff Braeden Clayson and County Commissioner Jeff Hough.
So far, no corrective action has been taken. The funds remain in the county accounts, even after those officials were informed by Commissioner John Crowder of potential malfeasance, given the legislative stipulations.
What needs to happen: See Zuiderveld’s key demands above.
ED NOTE
Great job, Sen. GZ and IFF for due diligence in this matter. But we do have a question: Was the original expenditure of $900K for the now-defunct East Idaho Forensic Pathology Center (EIFPC) project within the proper role of government? Our guess is NO.