On November 10, 2025, the Idaho Division of Financial Management released updated state revenue information through October. As of October 31st, state tax collections continue to lag behind projections. State tax collections are currently below the revised August forecast by $103.1 million. Revenue misses for the current state fiscal year are largely due to lower …
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The Idaho Association of Counties Legislative Committee recently convened to prioritize legislative and policy resolutions adopted by the IAC membership. The IAC Legislative Committee reviewed a wide range of resolutions, many related to funding vital county services. Ultimately, the committee settled on four priorities: Increase Fiscal Transparency and Accountability – Partner with the Idaho Legislature …
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Boundary County Commissioner Tim Bertling, Custer County Commissioner Will Nailon, Owyhee County Commissioner Cindy Bachman, and Twin Falls County Commissioner Don Hall along with IAC Executive Director Seth Grigg and IAC Policy Advisor Clay Boeckel joined county leaders from more than 40 public lands counties in 15 states last week for the annual National Association …
Continue reading “County Commissioners from Idaho Advocate at NACo’s Annual PILT Fly-In”
As the 2025 Legislative Session winds down and the Legislature (hopefully) adjourns this afternoon, I want to thank the IAC Legislative Committee, IAC membership, and IAC staff for their thought, deliberation, and action during the Session. The IAC Legislative Committee in particular, spent countless hours reviewing proposed legislation, analyzing the impacts on counties, and directing …
As the Legislature wraps up its 12th week of the session, a number of key issues impacting counties remain in flux. At the top of the list is transportation funding. The Senate Finance Committee introduced Senate Bill 1205 late this week providing funding for the strategic initiatives program. Senate Bill 1205 appropriates $110 million to …
There are ongoing discussions in the Legislature about cutting $50 million from the Governor’s proposed budget for state and local highway maintenance. If advanced, it would result in a loss of $21 million in local road funding through the highway distribution account. IAC is concerned that this is the first step in further general fund …
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The newly seated Legislature was in town this week to elect leadership for the next two years, select committee chairs and vice chairs, and make committee appointments. In Idaho, majority party leadership and committee chairs have significant influence over legislative priorities, which bills are granted hearings, and the timing of hearings. House leadership is as …
In January, 34 newly elected county commissioners will take office. This follows newly elected 33 county commissioners being sworn into office in January 2023. In other words, in just over two years, counties have seen a 50% turnover rate in county commissioners. Most of the turnover is due to sitting county commissioners choosing not to …
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With the recent passing of Dan Chadwick, the IAC family lost one of its fiercest advocates for county government. I first met Dan not long after graduating from Boise State University (BSU), while he was serving as the Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) executive director. Dr. Stephanie Witt, a professor in BSU’s Master of Public …
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The Idaho Legislature recessed for five legislative days on Thursday, April 4th after passing a key appropriation bill for the Idaho Department of Transportation. The Legislature will return to Boise on Wednesday, April 10th to wrap up its work for the year and adjourn sine die. Passage of House Bill 770 ensures that counties and …
Continue reading “From the Executive Director – Week of April 8, 2024”