NEWS
Idaho Counties Risk Management Program
5-07-2018
Auditor news Budget and Levy
3-20-2018
This week due to House Bill 559, we received a new generic L-2 worksheet from the Idaho State Tax Commission . An updated Recovered/Recaptured Property Tax and Refund List was also received. This form lists the revenue distributed to each taxing district under Idaho Code Sections: 63-3502B(2), 63-1305C, 63-602G, 63-3029B(4), 50-2903A(3) and 50-2913(3)(c). These new forms will be discussed at the next Budget and Levy Workshop to be held on May 8, 2018 in the Kootenai County Administration Building.
Brannon Announces Re-Election Campaign
2-23-2018
The Coeur d'Alene Press
Republican Jim Brannon has announced his re-election campaign for the position of Kootenai County Clerk.
“I am aware of the increasing tax burdens faced by the average citizen in Kootenai County. With multiple entities all taking a bigger bite out of your funds, it is imperative that we restrain growth of government by restricting it to the limited constitutional duties established in Idaho law. That is why the Clerk’s Budget has plummeted 17.7 percent in my tenure as Clerk,” said Brannon, in a news release.
“It has been an honor to serve all of the citizens of Kootenai County as Clerk for the past four years and I wish to continue to represent you. Significant tangible results have been realized by using my fiscally conservative viewpoint. I have a unique blend of skills and public experience that will continue to benefit the Kootenai County citizens. My departments will always be transparent, efficient and accurate.” Read More...
Republican Jim Brannon has announced his re-election campaign for the position of Kootenai County Clerk.
“I am aware of the increasing tax burdens faced by the average citizen in Kootenai County. With multiple entities all taking a bigger bite out of your funds, it is imperative that we restrain growth of government by restricting it to the limited constitutional duties established in Idaho law. That is why the Clerk’s Budget has plummeted 17.7 percent in my tenure as Clerk,” said Brannon, in a news release.
“It has been an honor to serve all of the citizens of Kootenai County as Clerk for the past four years and I wish to continue to represent you. Significant tangible results have been realized by using my fiscally conservative viewpoint. I have a unique blend of skills and public experience that will continue to benefit the Kootenai County citizens. My departments will always be transparent, efficient and accurate.” Read More...
Citizen Transparency 1-24-2018
We hear a lot of talk about “Citizen Transparency” throughout the County and our surrounding municipalities. Coeur d’Alene recently invested in some very expensive software called Open.Gov in order to promote the concept externally.
During Kootenai County’s budget hearing, The Clerk reminded the audience that although we do not have special software, our external website posts our payables reports every week. Any person can see detailed reports of County expenditures on demand. After taking a closer look at these reports with an outsider’s view, the Clerk discovered a few simple things we can do to help our neighbors better understand how their tax dollars are spent.
The Auditor team has posted guide documents on the public website to help taxpayers become familiar with our payables reporting. In addition, a Countywide initiative to expand transactional detail was implemented to clearly show spending content, especially for travel and training.
For example, a hotel invoice for a conference shows a single amount of $800. The reader may not realize the amount is for 5 days, not one. An additional few words changes the perception of the reader and gives greater transparency.
You can view these documents at the following link:
http://www.kcgov.us/departments/auditor/financials/downloads.asp
We encourage the public to visit the website regularly for weekly updates. Future plans include reporting dashboards with graphical analysis and forecasts for key funds.
During Kootenai County’s budget hearing, The Clerk reminded the audience that although we do not have special software, our external website posts our payables reports every week. Any person can see detailed reports of County expenditures on demand. After taking a closer look at these reports with an outsider’s view, the Clerk discovered a few simple things we can do to help our neighbors better understand how their tax dollars are spent.
The Auditor team has posted guide documents on the public website to help taxpayers become familiar with our payables reporting. In addition, a Countywide initiative to expand transactional detail was implemented to clearly show spending content, especially for travel and training.
For example, a hotel invoice for a conference shows a single amount of $800. The reader may not realize the amount is for 5 days, not one. An additional few words changes the perception of the reader and gives greater transparency.
You can view these documents at the following link:
http://www.kcgov.us/departments/auditor/financials/downloads.asp
We encourage the public to visit the website regularly for weekly updates. Future plans include reporting dashboards with graphical analysis and forecasts for key funds.
'Essence of Democracy' 11-30-2017
The Coeur d'Alene Press
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
November 30, 2017
COEUR d'ALENE — Spirit Lake Fire Candidate Jonathan Hall got closure Wednesday that he in fact lost on Nov. 7 by a single vote.
Then he gave county elections staff applause after watching the rare and detailed recount process at work.
"It's beautiful," Hall told eight county employees tasked with assisting in the hand- and electronic-counting processes.
"It's very official, and I was humbled to be a part of it. It's not necessarily that I wanted to be the first [to request a recount in many years in Kootenai and Bonner counties], but this is the essence of democracy."
After Kootenai County Clerk Jim Brannon informed Hall that the original count was verified and did not change the outcome of the election, Hall gave Brannon a firm handshake for his and his staff's time... Read more...
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
November 30, 2017
COEUR d'ALENE — Spirit Lake Fire Candidate Jonathan Hall got closure Wednesday that he in fact lost on Nov. 7 by a single vote.
Then he gave county elections staff applause after watching the rare and detailed recount process at work.
"It's beautiful," Hall told eight county employees tasked with assisting in the hand- and electronic-counting processes.
"It's very official, and I was humbled to be a part of it. It's not necessarily that I wanted to be the first [to request a recount in many years in Kootenai and Bonner counties], but this is the essence of democracy."
After Kootenai County Clerk Jim Brannon informed Hall that the original count was verified and did not change the outcome of the election, Hall gave Brannon a firm handshake for his and his staff's time... Read more...