The schools likely will have to absorb the cost from existing funds. They sought additional funding this winter to offset their costs in the current budget year, which began July 1. But Gov. Butch Otter did not include the money and the Legislature is not likely to add any.
The five schools — Boise State University, Idaho State University, the University of Idaho, the College of Western Idaho and North Idaho College — sought $1.55 million for expenses already incurred and another $2.17 million for the rest of the year. The costs are for both continuing and one-time expenses for personnel, training and equipment.
The concealed carry law, passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor last year, took effect July 1. It permits retired law enforcement officers and those people holding the state's enhanced concealed-carry permit to bring firearms to campus, but bans weapons in dormitories and buildings that can hold more than 1,000 people, such as sports or concert venues.
Idaho is one of seven states, along with Oregon, Colorado, Kansas, Mississippi, Utah and Wisconsin, to allow concealed weapons on college campuses. Twenty-one states ban guns on campus and 22 others leave it up to colleges. Eight of Idaho's academic presidents and the state Board of Education opposed the legislation.
The bill sponsored by Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Boise, passed by better than 2-1 margins in the House and Senate. A fiscal note accompanying the legislation predicted minimal "fiscal impact associated with posting signage at public entertainment facilities."
But the schools say they have had to add new staff, provide for training and purchase new equipment. Costs this budget year include:
• Boise State University: $1.4 million for an assistant director for event security, a chief of campus police and public safety, a director of emergency management, a security technology manager, armed and unarmed officers, administrative support and purchase of metal detectors, signs, a security vehicle and ballistic vests.
• Idaho State University: $809,000 for four senior security officers, six dispatch officers, an emergency manager, metal detectors, firearms for security officers and protective/response equipment.
• University of Idaho: $580,000 in addition to the existing contract with the Moscow Police Department. Costs cover a new security system manager, security cameras, hardware and software related to new equipment to monitor entrances and exits.
• College of Western Idaho: $285,000 for an armed school resource officer contracted from a local department and equipment.
• North Idaho College: $622,000 for unspecified personnel, a campuswide exterior surveillance system and enhanced electronic access on doors.
Boise State spokesman Greg Hahn said the concealed-carry law prompted the university to look at campus security overall and embark on a multiyear effort to improve it. The school relies on the Boise Police Department to handle serious campus incidents.
"As the city gets bigger and the campus gets bigger, and with this change, knowing that weapons are going to be allowed on parts of campus, does it make sense to turn (campus security) into a larger police force and ultimately armed security?" Hahn asked. "Certainly a piece of it had to do with the gun bill, but we've been hearing requests for more campus safety at all levels."
He said BSU would "figure out a way to absorb" the cost.
BSU's overall budget appropriation for the current year is $165.3 million, Idaho State nearly $129 million and University of Idaho $162 million. The College of Western Idaho and North Idaho College each received about $10.5 million.
ISU spokeswoman Adrienne King said in a statement that the outlays would cover additional safety measures across ISU's four campuses and provide for at least two officers on duty 24/7.
"ISU will continue to look for ways to improve our campus safety measures, including reallocating funds as possible for this campus priority," King said.
Otter spokesman John Hanian said the governor's 2016 budget did not cover the supplemental request for campus security expenditures because the schools placed it "last on their list" of priorities.
The matter got scant attention last week when the colleges presented their requests for the 2016 budget year that begins July 1 before the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee. It will not come up again unless a legislator requests it.
Rep. Phylis King, D-Boise, a JFAC member who voted against the concealed-carry bill last year, said the money could be better spent on educational needs.
"We try to make sure every penny is spent well on our priorities," King said. "This money could be used to pay, attract and retain professors."
©2015 The Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
