August 18, 2025
The Legislative Services Office’s Legislative Audit Division has posted their report on the defunct Bannock County / Idaho State University forensic pathology project online.
The report begins, “We have conducted a limited scope financial investigation of Idaho State University (ISU) focusing on appropriations made in House Bill No. 776 (2022), Sections 7 and 8, for operating expenditures related to the Eastern Idaho Forensic Pathology Center (EIFPC) at ISU.”
The report references an article published by the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) and a press release issued by Idaho Senator Glenneda Zuiderveld expressing concern regarding potential misallocation of state funds.
The IFF article can be found here: What Happened with ISU and Bannock County Lab Money? — Anatomy of a Malfeasance? – Idaho Freedom
Senator Zuiderveld’s press release can be found here: Senator Glenneda Zuiderveld Calls for Accountability in Misappropriation of Public Funds by ISU and Bannock County | Observer News Group
The report concludes with two recommendations:
“Recommendation 1: We recommend that ISU develop and follow written policies and
procedures to ensure proper monitoring and compliance with appropriation laws.
Recommendation 2: We recommend that ISU improve internal controls related to invoice approval to ensure that payments are supported by appropriate documentation and actual expenditures in compliance with appropriations and other requirements related to receiving the funds.”
The full report, including ISU’s response, can be found here: Special Reports – Idaho State Legislature
