[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6479885,"mediaKeyId","5692051-1cb2e757f8e85f2045b3397a5433a6f9","parentId",5692051,"title","Valley County proposes $42.27 million FY2026 budget, plans new positions as levy hits maximum","audioSeconds",1693,"startMs",47000,"endMs",1740000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692051-1cb2e757f8e85f2045b3397a5433a6f9&start=47&end=1740","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692051-1cb2e757f8e85f2045b3397a5433a6f9/thumbnail_47000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479885/Valley-County/Idaho/Valley-County-proposes-4227-million-FY2026-budget-plans-new-positions-as-levy-hits-maximum","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479885-4ebeae1fca2726fcaa099b6afb66db83/orig.mp4?Expires=1772845629&Signature=ZaHM1WTxJCnNjSmbaizdua1X5-EMP3FJV7kkfgadM8rGx8QvFDQ-HFGGIcIbTanAGbnVrR0JaKbmc~m2KJgL68y2-yRC3k2Ux5yj97Wz53rkS3fEu1LwmlRQYiSlnqN6ITFxUc1WQ056bQBx4IpnoEBckHDstVJsEy0z3doL73KxBQIc-Gs1RvI14t-dRCXiBkulswecoMiKUkXgxwZY-4pobyDQdiwR~0yK0L82hZN~QbGbWuOOzKBNu7-k18gNgpuxjBKvGRPf5JSdDHMYFwralmNXFLy6FO7bNhpRdSidcZoosyPTyf5h8LMHBzka5XKBJQW7b7Hda6ijQmUXCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Valley County","date","2025-08-28T07:50:50Z","article","Valley County officials presented a proposed $42,272,588 fiscal year 2026 budget at a public hearing Aug. 27 and said the county will levy the full 3% tax limit plus allowable new-construction revenue — a total levy capacity of $10,516,531 — to cover existing operations and several newly requested positions.

Clerk Miller, speaking for the clerk’s office, said the county’s new-construction value for the year was $259,433,624 and that the statutory 3% limit translates into $301,169; combined with $209,656 in new-construction capacity, the county’s additional levy authority is $510,825. “Based on the proposed budget, Valley County will need to levy all of those available dollars to fund the existing budget for fiscal year 2026,” Clerk Miller said.

Why it matters: county leaders said salary and staffing are the largest portions of the budget and that the levy increase and new-construction allowance are required to fund both existing commitments and the new personnel the departments requested.

County staff described five new positions included for FY2026: a fire mitigation assistant for the County Fire Mitigation Department; a deputy patrol and a communications deputy (converted to communications lead) for the Valley County Sheriff’s Office; a part-time recreation position for the Valley County Recreation Department; and an appraiser for the Valley County Assessor’s Office. The clerk’s office also budgeted a payroll specialist after the county moved to a biweekly payroll schedule. Several existing positions were proposed for conversion (for example, patrol corporal to patrol sergeant and detention deputy to detention corporal) and a facility technician position requested certification in HVAC for buildings-and-grounds work.

Kirk Miller, a county commissioner, told the public that new position requests must align with the county’s strategic plan and demonstrate how they make county services “more transparent, accountable, and responsive to the public.”

Officials said funding for the positions will come from a mix of the levy increase, remaining cash balances and grants. Clerk Miller said the fire mitigation assistant will be “a lot of that… funded out of grants,” while the part-time recreation position will initially be covered by property-tax levy dollars until revenue from a local event (referred to as “the horse thief”) is collected.

The budget packet presented to commissioners breaks levy requests into funds: general fund $8,044,957; airport $28,250; district court $650,574; health district $251,718; fairgrounds $60,000; revaluation $836,935; weeds $255,276; tort (insurance) $380,321; and veterans memorial $8,500 — totaling the $10,516,531 levy capacity. Clerk Miller said the county’s proposed overall budget is larger because many funds are supported by nonproperty-tax revenue and remaining cash: “Our budget is $42,000,000,” she said, “we get it from different sources.”

County staff also reviewed projected revenue and remaining cash: projected revenue $16,553,104 and cash forward of $11,229,795 (which includes ARPA and LACTF balances that have not been fully expended). The clerk’s office calculates property-tax impacts using the net taxable market value; staff reported a net taxable market value of $12,735,086,991, which yields a levy rate of 0.0008257992, or about $82.57 per $100,000 of taxable value — roughly $2 lower than the prior year’s per-$100,000 burden, the clerk’s office said.

Capital and grant items: the county’s capital improvement committee reviewed requests (the county requires a capital improvement form for projects exceeding $25,000) and recommended several items, with road and bridge requests comprising the majority. The clerk’s office also presented proposed uses of existing Title 3 funds — $50,000 for Valley County Firewise grants, $25,000 for community Firewise education and outreach, and $49,000 for a continued mobile risk assessment — while noting the county does not expect additional Title 3 funding for the following fiscal year unless the program is approved by the legislature.

The Aug. 27 hearing was limited to public comment; no members of the public spoke. Clerk Miller said the board will consider formal adoption by resolution, plus final approval of the new positions and proposed salaries, at the commissioners’ meeting next week.

The clerk’s office and department heads reviewed requests through budget workshops between May 17 and Aug. 6, and county staff thanked Human Resources Director Mike Savoy for conducting market analyses and helping establish appropriate pay scales for requested positions.

Budget staff emphasized the county’s fiscal posture: officials said a sizable portion of expenditures are salaries, that the county has been increasing compensation to reduce turnover, and that maintaining several months of reserves remains a priority for unexpected events or disasters.

Clarifying details: the proposed levy total to be collected is $10,516,531; proposed FY2026 budget total $42,272,588; net taxable market value $12,735,086,991; projected revenue $16,553,104; remaining cash/cash forward $11,229,795; 3% levy increase amount $301,169; new-construction levy capacity $209,656; capital project threshold $25,000; Title 3 proposed allocations $50,000 (Firewise grants), $25,000 (education/outreach), $49,000 (mobile risk assessment).

What’s next: the board will consider budget adoption and final personnel approvals at its next meeting; no final appropriations or salary changes were adopted at the Aug. 27 public hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Valley County Board of County Commissioner Meeting August 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Valley County officials presented a proposed $42,272,588 fiscal year 2026 budget at a public hearing Aug. 27 and said the county will levy the full 3% tax limit plus allowable new-construction revenue — a total levy capacity of $10,516,531 — to cover existing operations and several newly requested positions.","taxTitle","Valley County, Idaho","taxId",51032,"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},6479875,"Officials: wildfire containment at about 42%; evacuation Zone 5 lifted, Zones 6 and 7 remain on alert",33,2539000,2572000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692051-1cb2e757f8e85f2045b3397a5433a6f9&start=2539&end=2572","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692051-1cb2e757f8e85f2045b3397a5433a6f9/thumbnail_2539000.jpg","/articles/6479875/Valley-County/Idaho/Officials-wildfire-containment-at-about-42-evacuation-Zone-5-lifted-Zones-6-and-7-remain-on-alert","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479875-264274a53d993803c7d156697981975c/orig.mp4?Expires=1772845629&Signature=mWiB1OnesRI~oTJZIaNMQ~QjsybDcQLmlcKIIoMuAuoSRkw6t9bxMt7GM1EqYxhV8QOv-hTfF6UZktTk~Ia~-w4bePtsHZA5~~-G9~aZAFPHRzdaubyEkgdlO2jCfKwS1K2-tFG7kihKVuvxPUw~en8dnd3xj4ECm3MCWWSKRN58IkIEVNPUqSluvhoYIqMelGOpxOIoLm1wYbwhAhZ9Rvj7XIEPEE8s9RU96lQ1iZt43Eshy~IgYzbb5YrFwoqW525VHyC9MoAYQ0GMCwVmkGOe7kZ4kjNH5VXF4vspOHKkqWdMwfKjhyeUU896NHQ16buaf4MOA7NTsKt66eUFKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Valley County officials gave an update Aug. 27 on an active wildfire, reporting containment lines had reached roughly 40–42% and that evacuation Zone 5 had been cleared while Zones 6 and 7 remained at “ready” because firefighters had not yet secured black containment lines in those areas.

A county emergency official told commissioners, “Containment lines are up over 40% at this point,” and said county emergency management had removed Zone 5 from evacuation status and shifted other zones to lower postures where it was safe to do so.

Officials described firefighting operations as extensive: the incident includes more than 700 miles of hose laid out and large direct-attack efforts in areas where falling snags have made it unsafe for firefighters to operate. The official said crews saw significant progress but that a horseshoe-shaped area above Zones 6 and 7 remained dangerous; within one hour crews saw 10 snags fall during suppression work, reinforcing the decision to keep Zones 6 and 7 at a ready posture.

The county praised recent rainfall for assisting containment. Officials said they shifted Zone 5 to no evacuation status after reviewing containment progress but retained readiness in adjacent zones until black-line containment is verified.

Clarifying details: county reported containment at about 42%; Zone 5 removal from evacuation orders; Zones 6 and 7 remain at ready; crews deployed over 700 miles of hose; safety concerns due to falling snags in a horseshoe-shaped area.

What’s next: county staff and incident commanders will continue direct suppression and monitoring until containment lines are secured and public-safety officials can confirm further downgrades.","Valley County officials reported that containment lines for the local wildfire reached roughly 40–42% and said evacuation Zone 5 has been downgraded while Zones 6 and 7 remain at 'ready' because of proximity to active fire lines and safety concerns.",{"_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},6479880,"Valley County grants City of Cascade seven-day extension to certify tax levy",267,2029000,2296000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692051-1cb2e757f8e85f2045b3397a5433a6f9&start=2029&end=2296","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692051-1cb2e757f8e85f2045b3397a5433a6f9/thumbnail_2029000.jpg","/articles/6479880/Valley-County/Idaho/Valley-County-grants-City-of-Cascade-seven-day-extension-to-certify-tax-levy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479880-66e54fbd7b941892306a33241db75254/orig.mp4?Expires=1772845629&Signature=Tl1ZZE9fHTgmrrazNDFb8rSzhbEXh6rHz6E7NhSv~a0jJbdCflEjvqsYFBnky8PwqU3GtSkOZrZ6KZ6GN-ZbqzI0MYqdfVX-ywBX3zaZRbWGztauiP8iN~FckATY31aZGkFuFadPzl6D4kFVQLVFJG5jS5hEpA1AtcIfEummDwdsko7RF4nWYB2jgemkFISzjgn9sDgqtSQRbB93Yjf3PZHsMB69N3XGNohYFODFCn3JHcWIsrqBLfudAxPvvko~R0ufhi60b3lyxJgke8E6pUhFYIcqW8y5Rsosx0STM2U~mOBNfY4pZekJjlPOL4WIW9XE3CNQFalqlwmY~mDFtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Valley County Board of County Commissioners voted to grant the City of Cascade a seven-day extension to submit its L-2 tax-levy certification documents, following a city scheduling disruption and a missed public-notice publication.

Mayor Nesula of Cascade asked the board for the extension after city officials postponed the original public hearing when a longtime city employee died and two council members were delayed; the rescheduled public hearing is set for Sept. 8 while the county certification was due Sept. 4. The city advised the county it would submit the paperwork on Sept. 9.

A motion to grant the seven-day extension was made and seconded; commissioners voted in favor with the board recording three “Aye” votes, and the extension was approved.

City officials told the county the delay was caused in part by the death of a long-term municipal employee and by a missed newspaper notice after the meeting was rescheduled. Cascade also said its treasurer is transitioning out of the role and the city is continuing recruitment efforts.

Clerk Miller confirmed the county had sufficient time to process a Sept. 9 submittal for certification. Commissioners expressed sympathy to Cascade over recent staff losses and approved the extension for the certification deadline.

Clarifying details: Cascade’s rescheduled budget hearing will occur Sept. 8; original certification deadline was Sept. 4; the city planned to deliver certification by Sept. 9; the board vote was recorded as three votes in favor with no named roll-call in the transcript.

What’s next: Cascade will complete its public hearing on Sept. 8 and submit certification paperwork to the county following that hearing.","The Board of Valley County Commissioners approved a seven-day extension request from the City of Cascade to submit its tax-levy certification after the city’s public hearing was rescheduled following staff absences and a death in the department.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Valley County proposes $42.27 million FY2026 budget, plans new positions as levy hits maximum

Officials: wildfire containment at about 42%; evacuation Zone 5 lifted, Zones 6 and 7 remain on alert

Valley County grants City of Cascade seven-day extension to certify tax levy