IAC’S BLOG

The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) celebrated its 50th anniversary this September at its Annual Conference in Boise. Among the highlights was the County Officials Institute (COI) Graduation Ceremony where this year’s class became the largest graduating class in IAC history. IAC recognized 33 county elected officials, during the awards banquet on Wednesday, September 23rd. What It Takes to Graduate Earning a COI certificate is a real commitment. Each graduate completed 18 core credits and 12 elective credits, with county commissioners…

When the Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) celebrated its record-setting class of County Officials Institute (COI) graduates at its 50th Annual Conference this September, one name stood out. Lon Colton, Oneida County Clerk, became the first official in IAC history to earn the Advanced COI certificate. The COI program is IAC’s professional development program for county elected officials and staff, and finishing it is already a major commitment. To complete the program, participants must earn 18 core credits and 12 elective…

At the IAC Annual Conference, county commissioners, federal land managers and congressional staff gathered at the Riverside Hotel for the PILT Intergovernmental Roundtable, a featured session of Hosted by the National Center for Public Lands Counties (NCPLC) and moderated by Gregory Nelson, Director of the National Center for Public Lands Counties, the roundtable put county voices at the center of a conversation about Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT), a program that touches counties all across Idaho. Gregory opened by framing…

The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) is comprised of individuals whose careers have come to define what public service should look like — not through grand gestures, but through decades of steady, quiet, selfless work that strengthens the institutions Idahoans rely on every day. IAC and its members have the honor of awarding distinguished and deserving recipients each year at IAC’s Annual Conference. This year we are honored to award and recognize Don Hall as the 2026 Daniel G. Chadwick Civility…

Written by: Beth Mahn, Ada County TreasurerIn August, Idaho’s county treasurers gathered in Burley for the IACT Conference and the association’s 101st anniversary. This annual event reunites treasurers to strengthen our shared commitment to leadership, education, camaraderie, and lasting friendships as we serve our communities.IACT President Annette Dygert opened the conference by unveiling this year’s theme: Strong Roots, Bright Future; 101 Years of Excellence. She reflected on the generations of dedicated treasurers who came before us, the integrity and accountability that…

Dear IAC Members, On September 29, 2026, the Idaho County Board of Commissioners notified Governor Little that it intends to request a change to the management classifications of the 1,727,241 Idaho Roadless acres within the county. Only 75 of those acres are currently classified as General Forest, Rangeland and Grassland, the least restrictive theme. The county says the current classifications have hampered wildfire protection, access, forest health and timber projects on the Nez Perce-Clearwater. Under 36 CFR 294.27(b), the Forest Service…

The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) is comprised of individuals whose careers have come to define what public service should look like — not through grand gestures, but through decades of steady, quiet, selfless work that strengthens the institutions Idahoans rely on every day. IAC and its members have the honor of awarding distinguished and deserving recipients each year at IAC’s Annual Conference. This year we are honored to award and recognize Glenda Poston as the H. Sydney Duncombe award recipient….

The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) celebrated a major milestone this year with its 50th Annual Conference, and the celebration came with an added bonus: a successful effort to raise funds for the IAC Scholarship Fund.One of the highlights of the conference reception was the annual cornhole tournament, which brought together 21 teams for some friendly competition, plenty of laughs, and an opportunity to support a great cause. The reception was a fitting way to celebrate 50 years of IAC and…

The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) is excited to recognize more than 30 county elected officials who are graduating from the County Officials Institute (COI), including one graduate earning their Advanced COI certificate by completing 35 additional COI credits beyond the standard requirement! These individuals have participated in this foundational training program to build working knowledge of county government – from budgeting and financial transparency to the roles and responsibilities of each elected office. Advanced COI Certificate Graduate Lon Colton, Oneida County Clerk Ada…

  According to the IAC Bylaws and the rotation schedule for elections, a commissioner or coroner is eligible to run as the IAC 2nd Vice President for the upcoming year (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027). In even years, an election for the NACo and WIR Representatives will also take place at the IAC Annual Conference. Each candidate completed an application so they could share a little about themselves and why they are interested in the position. Candidates will also…

The  Idaho Association of County Assessors (IACA) convened in Nampa, Idaho, August 18–20, 2026, for its annual conference, hosted at the Nampa Civic Center. The conference kicked off Monday with optional activities, including a golf scramble and a bus tour highlighting Canyon County agriculture. That evening, attendees gathered at Purple Sage Golf Course for a dinner sponsored by GovPros, providing county assessors from across the state an opportunity to reconnect before the conference’s full agenda began. Tuesday morning opened with a…

July was a busy month for IAC’s districts. Districts 1, 2, 3, and 6 each met to provide and receive updates, discuss potential legislative resolutions, network, and more. IAC staff attended each meeting. It is always nice to meet with counties in their districts to learn more about the challenges they face and to see firsthand how the districts come together to support and learn from one another. Here are some highlights from each district meeting. District 1  District 1 members…

The Idaho Association of County Recorders and Clerks (IACRC) gathered in Lewiston, Idaho this August 11–13 for its 2026 Annual Conference, hosted at the Nez Perce County Courthouse. Throughout the conference, attendees participated in discussions and presentations covering legislative updates, artificial intelligence, budgets, upcoming elections, and updates from state leadership. The conference opened with a welcome from IACRC President and Teton County Clerk Kim Keeley, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation. The morning featured a lobbyist update, budget training…

In January 2026, the Idaho Supreme Court issued an opinion in Crookham v. County of Canyon, No. 52514 (Idaho Jan. 16, 2026), which will have ramifications for local governments statewide. Chiefly, the previous three-part “standing” barrier to entry for a litigant bringing a challenge to a land use decision has been lifted in favor of the statutorily prescribed “affected person test,” which is yet to be hammered out in court cases. The Court found this outcome already implicit in its own…

COI Graduation Ceremony This September, more than 25 county elected officials and staff will earn their County Officials Institute (COI) certificate, and IAC couldn’t be more proud to celebrate them during our 50th anniversary year. The graduation ceremony will take place during the Annual Business Meeting on Wednesday, September 23, at 10 a.m., as part of the 2026 IAC Annual Conference in Boise (register here). Getting there wasn’t easy, and that’s the point. Each graduate completed 18 core credits and 12…

As we look ahead to the 2027 legislative session, we expect many of last session’s major issues — property taxes and revenue options for state-required county services, tourism impacts, data centers/energy, and transportation funding, among others — to carry over. These issues will require significant time and attention from IAC staff and membership alike. Given this heavy carryover, we are asking IAC members to think carefully before submitting a new resolution this year. If you are considering one, start by reviewing IAC’s…

Written by Idaho County Clerk, Kathy AckermanThe heat and humidity of New Orleans, LA greeted Idaho’s attendees Jenny Rosin (IAC President/Lemhi Co. Assessor), Andy Creech (IAC 2nd VP/Payette Co. Sheriff) Kathy Ackerman (NACo Board Rep/Idaho Co. Clerk), John David Davidson (NACo Board Rep/Blain Co. Treasurer)  Skip Brandt (WIR Board Rep/Idaho Co. Commission Chair), Will Naillon (WIR Board Rep/Custer County Commissioner), Rod Beck (Ada County Commissioner), Jeff Hough (Bannock County Commissioner), Vic Pearson (Franklin County Prosecutor), Carol Moehrle (NACo Board Member), and…

Across Idaho, county officials, employees, and residents joined the nationwide celebration of the 250th anniversary of America, adding their own local color to a moment shared by all 50 states. While the Fourth of July brought parades, fireworks, and festivities to communities across the state, the commemoration didn’t end there. On July 8th — 250 years to the day after the Declaration was first read aloud to the public in Philadelphia — communities in every state and territory participated in “Sharing…

Every Idaho county pays dues to belong to the Idaho Association of Counties. But membership is only the starting point. Behind the scenes, IAC has spent decades building — and curating — a portfolio of 14 programs and services designed to save counties money, reduce risk, and support the people who keep county government running. If you’ve never taken stock of everything IAC offers, you’re not alone — awareness of the full lineup is something we’re actively working to improve. Here’s…

Effective July 1, 2026, three state offices counties regularly work with — the Office of Species Conservation (OSC), the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources (OEMR), and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) — have consolidated into a single agency: the Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination (OSMEC), pronounced “oh-smeck.” The Two Bills Behind the Merger House Bill 737 merged the Governor’s Office of Species Conservation (OSC) and the Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources (OEMR) under a single…