Trial court administrator asks Bonner County to fund new tasers, Axon training and other court budget increases

Lisa Chisbor, the trial court administrator for Idaho’s First Judicial District, told Bonner County commissioners that the district court is seeking several targeted budget increases to replace obsolete security equipment and keep court staff certified.

Chisbor asked commissioners to raise the courthouse equipment line (8590) from the current $3,500 to $9,500 to cover a five‑year contract with Axon that would supply seven Taser 7 devices, docking and training equipment, duty cartridges, warranty coverage and access to evidence.com for certification materials. “The total cost of the contract is $22,747.20 over 5 years or approximately $4,549 annually,” Chisbor said, explaining the package is intended to replace out‑of‑service X26 and X26P models and to preserve bailiff certification.

She framed the purchase as a risk‑reduction measure: the court’s current tasers are discontinued, replacement batteries and parts are no longer reliably available, and without an online training platform some bailiffs will be unable to re‑certify and carry a taser. “This request is not for enhancement or expansion of services; to replace obsolete and unsupported equipment that is essential to courthouse security,” Chisbor said.

Commissioners pressed for detail on recurring supply costs. Chisbor said many items commonly budgeted under equipment or supplies — LifeLock cartridges, first‑aid and CPR supplies, CO2 cartridges and some radio earpieces — are typically annual or replacement‑as‑needed costs, and that this year’s packet itemizes those expenses.

The meeting also included an extended discussion of professional services and the law‑library subscription. Chisbor noted a recent state Supreme Court opinion about financial responsibility for indigent parents in private termination cases that may require counties to pay transcript and record preparation costs in some situations. “On page 25 of that opinion, they did decide … the county is going to be responsible to pay the costs and fees of preparation of the record and the transcript,” she told the board, and advised commissioners that could affect future legal costs.

Commissioners questioned a proposed increase in the law‑library line (from $4,500 to $6,000), and asked staff to confirm exactly what items are charged to that account. The board asked staff to provide a clear compare‑and‑contrast of Westlaw and LexisNexis pricing and to identify how many users rely on Westlaw, noting the county previously moved the prosecutor’s office to LexisNexis to save money and expects similar documentation before approving higher recurring subscription costs.

Chisbor outlined additional line‑item requests: a uniform allowance for seven bailiffs, and an ammunition increase from $1,200 to $2,700 based on specific brand/round requests, projected monthly range practice and shipping costs. She said the department overspent ammunition and uniform lines in prior years and that the request is intended to ensure monthly practice and to maintain range records that would be reviewed after any incident. “What he’s trying to cover is there’s a liability issue related to the continued practice and … if everybody doesn’t check all the boxes then that will be a problem,” a participant noted during the discussion.

On personnel, Chisbor presented step increases for two judicial staff attorneys (costing $4,553 total) and step boosts for three bailiffs, and commissioners requested documented performance evaluations to support merit changes during budget time.

The commissioners asked for follow‑up documentation on the Axon contract, a breakdown of the supplies and replacement‑cycle assumptions, and a detailed Westlaw/LexisNexis price and user analysis before committing to larger recurring allocations. The board took no formal vote during the hearing and recessed after hearing the district court requests.