Bonner County Ambulance District begins process under House Bill 436 to seek urban renewal revenue allocation

Bonner County Ambulance Service District staff said they submitted a request to the county clerk seeking an accounting of revenue-allocation proceeds attributable to the ambulance district from urban renewal areas as required by House Bill 436, and staff said the board will consider a resolution of intent to withdraw on or before June 1.

Staff explained the procedure under House Bill 436: by May 1 a taxing district must request an accounting from the county clerk of the revenue-allocation proceeds attributable to the district as of Dec. 31, 2024. Once the county provides the accounting, the board of county commissioners may adopt a resolution expressing intent to withdraw and deliver it to the urban renewal district; the urban renewal board then must hold a special meeting within 10 business days of receipt of the district’s resolution to accept or deny the withdrawal request, taking into account outstanding bonds, contracts or other indebtedness.

If the URA boards accept the withdrawal and the required steps (including coordination with the county clerk, county recorder and state tax commission) are completed before the statutory deadlines, the ambulance district could receive property tax revenue that would otherwise be allocated to the urban renewal area. Staff said they submitted the district’s request around April 29 and that assessor data needed to calculate impacts arrived the next day; the district will present a resolution for the board of county commissioners at its May 21 meeting.

Staff cautioned that each URA may assess the request and deny it for legal or contractual reasons; if the deadlines are missed, the district would have to wait until the following year to receive any reallocated revenue.