[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6655701,"mediaKeyId","5374996-d02b161607ca01325efa99e8c37db172","parentId",5374996,"title","Assessor litigation funding contested; commissioners to consider executive session before finalizing legal contingency","audioSeconds",339,"startMs",3017000,"endMs",3356000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5374996-d02b161607ca01325efa99e8c37db172&start=3017&end=3356","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5374996-d02b161607ca01325efa99e8c37db172/thumbnail_3017000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6655701/Kootenai-County/Idaho/Assessor-litigation-funding-contested-commissioners-to-consider-executive-session-before-finalizing-legal-contingency","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655701-0792e76c1123e6bcebbf8bbae47bcb84/orig.mp4?Expires=1777150076&Signature=CvP-LfXgwY~z0Jm4BEGcoBYUre14R48dhqxyA84hZaA~lzSYvbb9Biw4RPmbwdSkIm8w5TAt0Gp1Lgn1AkmkAHeUinMLP9C37AFKWRBgT0MtfRfXvrfI1BGb9r3G8gX1j9ZVP1V0MG9YoiL8yCIFZfHZtCBGbRGnU3VO8MpKaUDmEiPPOzEXFwpx27ADx24P8hcGHUkw7sEgFYLHHZct4YIsxA3x~P7oo4VSwUDnUNjCMiBEB6aCbarn51~n2jOKFihb9eOR9hT-KomZf5z-tQF3JcWG6Y18uU64uLsmpxoJ-oL8dGOq1I2LTm5q~wSKI0tQi3oHFvI0tR-BLw0kNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kootenai County","date","2025-07-11T21:56:53.603Z","article","COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho ' A dispute over the assessor's FY26 legal-services line prompted the Board of Commissioners on July 11 to schedule an executive-session update and to treat litigation expenses as contingent while they finalize the budget.

Budget staff reviewed the assessor's line items and said the assessor had budgeted $140,000 for legal services. Based on trend coding of invoices, staff suggested much litigation-related spending had been booked to a separate witness-payments account and proposed reducing the legal-services line in the assessor's budget and treating litigation as a contingency.

Assessor Veil Kovacs objected, telling commissioners the board had already created obligations and the assessor was working with a contracted attorney. \"If the Commissioner set that budget to 0 in legal expenses, I have an obligation that was executed by the Board of County Commissioners. Now I will have no means to pay it,\" Kovacs said. Kovacs noted he had previously provided the board with a resolution and confidential memorandums related to the cases.

Commissioners proposed holding an executive session to review litigation details before July 23; staff and the assessor discussed scheduling constraints tied to statutory budget deadlines. One commissioner suggested using contingency funds for any invoices that arrive before the board completes executive-session review.

Ending: The board agreed to schedule an executive-session update on litigation and to treat legal spending for open cases as a contingent item while final budget actions are pending.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","7/11/2025 Board of County Commissioners: FY26 Budget Deliberations","oneSentenceSummary","The assessor and budget staff debated whether to budget $140,000 for legal services in the assessor's FY26 budget. The assessor warned that the board had already contracted counsel and would need funds to pay invoices; commissioners proposed handling the matter as a contingency or in an executive session before the final budget.","taxTitle","Kootenai County, Idaho","taxId",3567,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6655703,"Sheriff's office defends SWAT training and ammunition budgets; commissioners opt not to cut lines now",113,883000,996000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5374996-d02b161607ca01325efa99e8c37db172&start=883&end=996","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5374996-d02b161607ca01325efa99e8c37db172/thumbnail_883000.jpg","/articles/6655703/Kootenai-County/Idaho/Sheriffs-office-defends-SWAT-training-and-ammunition-budgets-commissioners-opt-not-to-cut-lines-now","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655703-5ed4f301a93fcb7beb877201f100a95b/orig.mp4?Expires=1777150076&Signature=BYwV8Q82tObOnRTdA52j~ooxFFQTCk-VfTqTJiD9vu7MetwpD2~OBwrKpo6ZXT6U77afi0~nW5MBH6a32PGHa4NgYocu3hvKzRWKgm9jw-D~kVA16J3fn~MD0F83aWP2RFL5riqiSEnqSnz~RHI2Y6Z2rZor5046kXGDRItfckVYx5eT7v8qaz4uA1KCjv61EUQEq7FgvcLaa282OZUm49UpW0EixdVPHIOxLJ6mCQlaX~XJJOTlf0UxViOvdLlO5-dqsLb3~6ufeeOe-SXwn-FmyvlCVPiwTx4EQNFysGpW8vmSkmOpyugHyw16tw21AbVloHw9DFuU3GGIhOa-tA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho ' The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office defended its Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) training, travel and ammunition budget lines at the July 11 FY26 budget work session, and commissioners declined to reduce those lines immediately after a department explanation.

Capt. Heil addressed the board when the auditor's office staff suggested several SWAT line items appeared high compared with three-year spending trends. Heil said training is required for disciplines such as explosive breaching and less-lethal tactics; the department tries to host or co-host classes locally or with neighboring Spokane jurisdictions to reduce travel, but some training still requires travel and associated costs. Heil also said the office redirected funds this year to replace expired ballistic vests, which reduced travel and training expenditures in the current-year accounting while overall SWAT spending remained near budget.

On ammunition and consumables, Heil said the planned ammo quantities are based on a full roster of team members and that recent incidents required use of gas, smoke and other expendables that will need to be replenished. \"We plan out the training, how much ammo we use, every year and we've been coming in a little low because the county side of the SWAT team doesn't have as many people as we are allotted, but we plan for having ammo for everybody if the team was full,\" Heil said.

Commissioners said they wanted to minimize the county budget where possible but recognized training and equipment readiness are operational priorities; the board voted to leave the SWAT lines unchanged for now and revisit them in subsequent budget meetings if necessary.

Ending: Commissioners did not adopt cuts to SWAT travel, training or ammunition lines at the July 11 meeting; staff will return with additional information if future budget meetings require savings.","Capt. Heil and the sheriff's office explained SWAT training, travel and ammunition needs to the Board of Commissioners; the board deferred cuts after hearing that some recent spending had shifted to equipment replacement and that team size and recent operations will increase consumable needs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6655708,"Kootenai County assessor presses for five personnel changes; commissioners approve several conversions and progressions",1415,1519000,2934000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5374996-d02b161607ca01325efa99e8c37db172&start=1519&end=2934","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5374996-d02b161607ca01325efa99e8c37db172/thumbnail_1519000.jpg","/articles/6655708/Kootenai-County/Idaho/Kootenai-County-assessor-presses-for-five-personnel-changes-commissioners-approve-several-conversions-and-progressions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655708-0066f5b78e13d01adede42bc205f126d/orig.mp4?Expires=1777150076&Signature=ngRHuPR5Pf7H-Qcll7j-zYAtq91sNoYKTohdWLuQvpSwmaZutTAv7NQd27TyGhnlh5pq0nU3frct~ixneVVekRQRCUtn1ajU4oA0Ofgg9ze8gDJ321XLqd-gd7pMV71vxztmiFBns6Ved2tHTfbcXJaxnfbyO7tbfaUcJZ8jREfDfO8YCzBQMnUdrQ8uE2LGpARU4UgUWPjdqZs87d1MfqMvdSGZCyezHRjcdVYATNwbA3NBVIcLJCEe5KdVFZhsNUfpn6q4ZOm3oLW5H1oCQ6FRPMiqRww8-TfY7t3~qE6XPTzEFwlXX9R2Esa~xKKLtdHIb5MoHjinUIAhV7Ck5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho ' The Kootenai County assessor briefed the Board of Commissioners on a package of staffing requests and career progressions during the July 11 FY26 budget deliberations, and commissioners agreed to retain several personnel progressions while asking for follow-up on timing and fillability.

Assessor Veil Kovacs told commissioners his submitted budget is \"an extremely lean budget\" and that the five full-time equivalents (FTEs) he requested are priorities. Kovacs said the assessor's request totaled about $6,800,000 for his office in the proposed package and described the request as roughly $139,000 lower than the current year in his calculations.

Commissioners voted informally (no recorded roll-call vote in the transcript) to keep career progressions for appraisers in the FY26 package and to approve a conversion of an appraisal technician 2 to a business intelligence analyst (BIA). Two commissioners expressed support for the BIA conversion, saying it should reduce routine clerical work and improve data processes for appraisers. \"This position's operating so far above what I would classify tech 2 work to be... There's some... Excel mastery and mastery over the various systems,\" an assessor representative said of the person proposed for conversion.

The board also discussed converting several appraiser two positions to appraiser three as part of routine career progressions; the assessor said these movements are prorated to anniversary dates and are based on training, competency and tenure. Commissioners asked whether the progressions were contingent on state certification and on individual performance; assessor staff said they had reviewed individuals and identified those likely to qualify within the next fiscal year.

On a new commercial-appraiser request, two commissioners asked the assessor to lower the grade in the proposed budget from a Commercial Appraiser 3 to a Commercial Appraiser 1 (keeping step placement higher within the lower grade) to reduce near-term costs while preserving the position in staffing counts. The assessor said the office will attempt to recruit someone with income-approach experience but would consider promoting from within or downgrading if market candidates are not available.

Why it matters: assessor staffing affects appraisal workload, timeliness and fairness across property classes; commissioners flagged the risk of shifting workload onto residential taxpayers if commercial valuation resources are insufficient.

Ending: Commissioners left the personnel items largely in the proposed FY26 budget with instructions to the assessor to continue recruitment, to provide documentation on timing/prorating of progressions, and to return with updates if market conditions require grade or step changes.","Assessor Veil Kovacs urged the commissioners to keep five requested positions and career progressions in the FY26 budget; commissioners agreed to several conversions (including a business intelligence analyst and appraiser promotions) and discussed downgrading a planned commercial appraiser grade from 3 to 1 to limit near-term cost.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6655711,"Kootenai County continues FY26 budget deliberations as staff outlines COLA and tax scenarios",4288,316000,4604000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5374996-d02b161607ca01325efa99e8c37db172&start=316&end=4604","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5374996-d02b161607ca01325efa99e8c37db172/thumbnail_316000.jpg","/articles/6655711/Kootenai-County/Idaho/Kootenai-County-continues-FY26-budget-deliberations-as-staff-outlines-COLA-and-tax-scenarios","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655711-a89bae82530b41fc60700a4b2588f29c/orig.mp4?Expires=1777150076&Signature=I5TDHx5n7W~WmCi7W82~zrEqdQFVJN3XAOOStkReNBjJqfn3fYIVc2QjdAbISK2UJ4os5T~Scqfq~z0O2O2DccXynl8B1l8l6jnL4pbLv1AxZEfeTiYCTNirVBKhHFh-Go2Z9PFy3mGfXIwj7uwyLyUIeQg0QC2zGcFUacF4wdtE54bW3CBumBf171lKLQDaebXbu9JB46~MvKNVrL5Ztj71eYeo28cGAA5W77QJK2rt~jhO0GTCyoEv32Xaj2VB~2FtxtFMMemqsePcg4TW7U0xl~tY7nsIdK90CCqTV0X6HHw6jf6K9SFmxGWp-ueUyfjl4cgVU70vMIK8Tr3wWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho ' At a July 11 meeting, the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners heard a staff summary of preliminary FY26 budget figures, including alternative cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) scenarios and a temporary removal of expected revenue from the City of Hayden while negotiations continue.

Budget staff member Brandy Falcon told the board the packet the commissioners received was a conservative version that excludes any revenue from a proposed Hayden law-enforcement contract. \"For now, just to be on the safe side and conservative, I've removed Hayden revenues from the budget,\" Falcon said. She added that the county had proposed charging Hayden $1,812,893 for personnel costs (8 deputies, a lieutenant and an average detective) plus a 40% overhead markup; the FY25 contract had been $1,144,000.

Falcon also laid out how the county's fiscal position changes under various COLA and tax scenarios. Using the packet presented to commissioners and excluding Hayden revenue, the county would show a $396,000 surplus at a 3% tax increase with no COLA. Introducing a 1% COLA with a 3% tax increase would shift the position to a $296,000 deficit; a 1.5% COLA would be a $645,000 deficit; 2% would be a $992,000 deficit; and 2.5% would produce a roughly $1.3 million deficit.

Why it matters: the board must decide a combination of property tax change and employee COLA before adopting a final budget. Those decisions affect county services, hiring and midyear requests.

Commissioners discussed targets for the package. One commissioner said she was leaning toward a tax increase between 1% and 2% and a COLA in the 1% to 2% range; another urged further cuts to reach the board's preferred COLA outcome. Falcon said she expects updated information from the City of Hayden and from the county's benefits broker regarding health-premium rates before the board's final deliberations.

The board scheduled additional budget deliberations, with a final budget meeting set for July 23. Falcon told the board she would provide updated health-premium projections as soon as they are available and would notify the board when Hayden returns a revenue figure. \"As soon as I hear back from the city of Hayden, I'll let the board know,\" Falcon said.

Ending: Commissioners did not take formal votes on the overall tax or COLA at the July 11 session; they left multiple departmental requests and several line-item adjustments for further discussion at the July 23 meeting.","County budget staff presented FY26 revenue and expenditure scenarios, removed City of Hayden revenue from the baseline and showed how different COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) choices affect the county's balanced position; commissioners set a tentative direction and scheduled further deliberations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Assessor litigation funding contested; commissioners to consider executive session before finalizing legal contingency

Sheriff's office defends SWAT training and ammunition budgets; commissioners opt not to cut lines now

Kootenai County assessor presses for five personnel changes; commissioners approve several conversions and progressions

Kootenai County continues FY26 budget deliberations as staff outlines COLA and tax scenarios