Professional engineers board requests more staff as complaint caseload jumps

The executive director of the Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Board told the Appropriations subcommittee that the agency's caseload has surged and it needs additional staff to maintain public protection.

Eric Lacefield said the board became independent in May 2022 and that complaints have risen sharply since the transition. "The complaint caseload has increased by a 151% in 2025, to 93 complaints received," he said, and requested $545,000 to fund an additional compliance inspector, a full‑time attorney and other needs, plus $120,000 per year to pay the Secretary of State for HR and financial services the board now receives.

He told the committee the board wants to play a role in workforce development to address a shortfall of licensed surveyors — the board counts about 1,085 active licensed surveyors and is licensing only about 10 per year, leaving many licensees near retirement age — but that immediate enforcement and investigative capacity is the priority.

Committee members asked for clarification on totals and the specific positions funded by the house addition; the director said the house provided $413,083 and the board seeks the remainder to fund its must‑have positions.