From the Executive Director: Week of February 6, 2023

I’d like to start by thanking all of Idaho’s county elected officials and county staff who attended last week’s IAC Midwinter Legislative Conference. Turnout from the membership was strong making for a successful event. I hope each of you had an opportunity to tour the Capitol, sit in on committee meetings, and meet with your …

From the Executive Director: Week of January 23, 2023

Property Taxes, Property Taxes, Property Taxes Everyone in the Capitol is talking about property taxes, leading to a sense of urgency to finally address rising property taxes. While in previous years budget caps have been the primary means of attempting to control rising property taxes, legislators this year appear to be focusing on more targeted …

Boise State Releases 2023 Annual Public Policy Survey

Last week, Boise State University released the 2023 Idaho Public Policy Survey. This statewide annual survey focuses on various issues of particular importance to counties, including Taxes and Budget, Growth Housing & Economics, and Crime. The survey includes a dashboard that allows for a deeper dive into the data, including regionally capturing the data. Some …

From the Executive Director: Week of January 16, 2023

Legislative Session Off to Slow Start The 2023 Legislative Session is off to a slow start. This shouldn’t be a surprise given the massive turnover, changes in committee chairs, and changes in leadership. To date, only six legislative bills have been introduced. The Legislature has also been slow to take up rules while committees like …

Idaho Broadband Fund Grants

On January 11, 2023, the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board made a motion to organize project submissions based on the 4 elements identified below. Applicants now have the opportunity to clarify this information within their proposal if it is not already clearly stated. Information is being requested based on the Board’s motion to better understand and …

Gov. Little Proposes $120M in Property Tax Relief During State of the State

Governor Brad Little gave his annual State of the State address to a joint session of the Idaho Legislature. During the speech, the Governor rolled out the “Idaho First” plan. The plan includes support for schools, property tax relief, and a new strategy to fight fentanyl. Property tax relief and continued investments in transportation infrastructure …

From the Executive Director: Week of January 9, 2023

Legislature Convenes with a Focus on Property Taxes As the 67th Idaho Legislature convenes in Boise, property tax relief will quickly come into focus. Some legislators, like Representative Bruce Skaug (Dist. 10, Canyon and Ada Counties) and Senator Scott Grow (Dist. 14, Ada and Gem Counties) have been working with county officials on solutions to …

New FCC Broadband Map: Submit Accuracy Challenges Today

If you have been tracking broadband at the federal level, you may have heard that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released the latest Broadband mapping. With that release comes the opportunity for Idahoans to increase the accuracy of the map. Accuracy is critical because the map will aid in determining the allocation of the …

2022 ISA & IJAA Annual Conference Recap

The Idaho Sheriffs Association (ISA) and the Idaho Jail Administrators Association (IJAA) gathered at the Riverside Hotel this December for the 2022 ISA & IJAA Annual Conference. The three-day event, held from December 13 – 15, featured opening remarks from Governor Brad Little, as well as presentations from keynote speakers on leadership, concerns of police …

IAC Launches New Mentorship Program for Idaho’s County Elected Officials

IAC is excited to announce the launch of its new mentorship program designed as a resource for Idaho’s county elected officials. The IAC Mentoring Program is a one-year commitment that offers the opportunity to develop a mentoring relationship between experienced county elected officials (mentors) and newly elected officials (mentees). County government is complex, and newly …