Latah County passes $32.7 million budget

MOSCOW — The Latah County Commissioners on Tuesday passed its $32.7 million budget for the next fiscal year, which includes an increased expense for a murder trial next year.

As the county prepares for next summer’s scheduled murder trial of Bryan Kohberger, it has budgeted $150,000 in trial expenses. These expenses include travel and lodging costs for jurors and bailiffs. This is a significantly higher expense than the $3,000 that is typically budgeted for trials.

Kohberger’s attorneys will argue to move the suspect’s trial to a different county during a Thursday hearing in Latah County District Court. His trial is scheduled to start in June 2025.

The Daily News reported in June that even if the trial is moved to a different venue, Latah County still has to reimburse the county where the trial is taking place for juror costs.

The total county budget is $4 million more than last year’s. This is largely because of the $5 million in grant money it received to expand internet broadband infrastructure across the county, said Latah County Finance Officer Christine Nauman.

County employees will receive raises ranging 1.5% to 5.5%.

Nauman said two of the county’s major funding sources from Idaho will decline next year as the state is projecting a 2% decrease in sales tax dollars and a nearly 8% decrease in liquor funds.

The county’s upcoming construction projects include replacing the courthouse roof, upgrading the courthouse’s HVAC system and finishing its new shop facility located in the parking lot across the street.

The state government has taken over the $2 million in expenses for public defense, which also means the county will not be receiving the quarterly $142,000 from the state to use for that purpose, Nauman said.

The majority of the county’s budget goes toward its “justice” fund, which includes the sheriff’s officer, court clerks, probation office, jail and dispatch.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.