2022 IACC Annual Conference Recap

County elected officials and IAC policy staff recently spent several days in Burley, Idaho, for the 2022 Idaho Association of Commissioners and Clerks (IACC) Annual Conference. During the conference, Boundary County Commissioner Dan Dinning received the Mills Adler Award for his many accomplishments and dedication to serving Idaho counties. New leadership was also established at …

Broadband Speed-Testing Grant Opportunity for Idaho Counties

Many, if not all, of the counties in Idaho are looking for ways to enhance broadband coverage. There are some great opportunities available right now through the use of ARPA dollars, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL), as well as state funding that has been set aside (both ARPA funds and state funds without federal strings …

Hidden Gems: Celebrate National County Government Month this April

Help us celebrate National County Government Month by showcasing your county’s hidden gems all month long! National County Government Month (NCGM), held each April, is an annual celebration of county government. We invite you to take this opportunity to promote the important programs and services your county offers. You can use social media to show …

Gov. Little’s Signing of H735 Provides Historic Public Defense Funding & Ongoing Property Tax Relief

The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) applauds Legislative Leaders and Governor Little for taking bold action on public defense reform by passing House Bill 735. “House Bill 735 provides historic reform regarding how public defense is funded,” says Seth Grigg, IAC Executive Director. “Instead of counties footing the bill using property tax dollars, state sales …

2022 Legislative Session Takeaway

The Idaho Legislature adjourned last week sine die, marking the end of a session that will be remembered as one of the most important sessions for counties in recent history. Idaho counties scored major wins that reform public defense delivery (H0735), repeal the county medically indigent program (H0735), increase transportation funding (H0772, S1359), transfer funding …

What to Watch: Week of March 21

This week will likely be the final week of the 2022 Legislative Session. Even though we are in the home stretch, IAC is still monitoring around a dozen bills. The bills highlighted below are still alive and need IAC members to be actively engaged, particularly with the Senate and in the case of one bill, …

From the Executive Director: Week of March 7

House Introduces Major Property Tax Reform Legislation On Friday, March 4th, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee introduced House Bill 741 exempting owner-occupied residential property from paying most property tax levies. House Bill 741 is sponsored by House Majority Leader Mike Moyle (District 14, Ada County) and Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee Chair Jim …

From the Executive Director: Week of February 28

Major Property Tax Relief Legislation on Tap for Introduction After weeks of speculation and the cancelation of multiple introductory hearings, major property tax relief legislation is set to be unveiled later this week. While an introductory hearing has yet to be set, legislators are tying up loose ends in preparation of making the bill public. …

IAC Officers Travel to Washington, D.C. for NACo Legislative Conference

By Kathy Ackerman, IAC Immediate Past President Idaho had several representatives at the recent National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference held in Washington, D.C., February 11-15.  As with Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) conferences, attending a national conference allows attendees to network and learn about important issues and potential solutions that are relevant in …

From the Executive Director: Week of February 21

Major Property Tax Relief Package on Tap The House Revenue and Taxation Committee is poised to introduce a property tax relief package that will alter how local governments are funded. Under the framework, anyone who owns a residential property and receives the homestead exemption would be exempt from paying nonexempt property taxes to counties, cities, …