County Elected Official Turnover Remains High

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 …

2024 IAC Spring County Officials Institute Recap

The 2024 Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) Spring County Officials Institute (COI) concluded after four training sessions around the state. IAC policy staff traveled to Burley, Idaho Falls, Coeur d’Alene, and Boise in the month of May. These trainings offered county officials and staff an overview of the 2024 Legislative Session, the nuts and bolts …

Idaho County Members Visit California for 2024 WIR Conference

By Steve Smith, Custer County Commissioner County elected officials and staff from Idaho ventured to Mariposa County, California, to participate in the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2024 Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference. The event, held May 7 – 10 at the Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite National Park, brought together county officials from across the …

IAC District 4 Meeting Recap – May 2024

The IAC District 4 meeting was held in Camas County on May 9th, 2024. Minidoka County Commissioner Wayne Schenk started the meeting off with roll call and the pledge of allegiance. Following the introduction, Minidoka County Treasurer LaVonna Dayley was sworn in as IAC District 4’s secretary/treasurer. Meeting attendees also discussed nominations for the recipient …

Leader, Advocate, Friend – Dan Chadwick’s Legacy in County Government

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 …

IAC’s Board Members Meet in Moscow for Planning & Development

By Oneida County Assessor Kathleen Atkinson The IAC Board of Directors met in Moscow, Idaho, for their Spring Board Planning and Development Meeting on April 25, 2024. Attendees were welcomed by Vic Pearson, IAC’s president, who provided an overview of the agenda. Roll Call was then taken by Mark Bair, IAC’s 2nd vice president.  Board …

IAC Publishes 2024 Legislative Review

  The 2024 Idaho Legislative Session concluded with a flurry of activity, leaving a mark as one of the most notable sessions in recent history. The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) Legislative Committee, under the steadfast leadership of Chair Twin Falls County Commissioner Don Hall and Vice-Chair Ada County Commissioner Tom Dayley, convened 12 times, …

IAC Releases 2025 Templates for Proposed Legislative and Policy Resolutions

While the 2024 Idaho Legislative Session may have just wrapped, it is time to consider policy changes needed in 2025. This year, the Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) is providing two separate templates for proposed resolutions: the 2025 Proposed Legislative Resolution template and the new 2025 Proposed Policy Resolution template.  Why Have Two Templates? To …

ISA & IJAA Spring Conference Recap 2024

The Idaho Sheriffs’ Association (ISA) and the Idaho Jail Administrators Association (IJAA) met for their 2024 Spring Conference from April 15 – 17 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. This conference brought together Idaho’s sheriffs, deputies, and jail administrators from counties across Idaho for roundtable discussions, business meetings, and job-specific training. The keynote presentation: A Crisis in …

IAC District Meetings Roundup – April 2024

Throughout the month of April, IAC Districts 3, 1, and 5, met in their respective regions to share resources, gain valuable insights to county issues and solutions, and hear legislative updates. IAC District 3 met in Adams County on April 10th to discuss matters both specific to their region and those impacting the counties across …