Ada County board adopts tentative budgets, denies lien and approves multiple agreements

The Ada County Board of Commissioners on July 25 adopted a tentative county budget of $358,822,966 and a tentative Emergency Medical Services (EMS) district budget of $30,268,380, denied a petition to discharge a medical emergency lien (case no. 0105-30), and approved a set of routine agreements and budget adjustments.

The actions came during the board’s regular open-business meeting, where commissioners also approved resolution No. 3106 to adjust the county budget to reflect unscheduled sheriff’s-office revenue and voted to approve multiple intergovernmental and facility agreements, change orders and routine items such as the claims journal, personnel actions and tax cancellations.

Why it matters: Adopting a tentative budget sets the county’s maximum spending level for the year and begins the legal notice and levy process; the board must adopt a final budget by the statutory deadline in September. The denial of the lien discharge preserves a recorded medical-emergency lien on the property while leaving enforcement contingent on future events, such as sale or refinance.

Most important votes and outcomes - Deny petition to discharge medical emergency lien (case no. 0105-30). Motion to deny was made and seconded; voice vote passed. The board adopted findings and conclusions recommending denial; the recorded lien remains attached to the property and may be enforced if the property is refinanced or sold. - Adopt tentative county budget for FY 2025–26: $358,822,966. Motion to consider and publish the tentative budget carried by voice vote. The motion included direction to publish required notices and referenced prior public hearings held June 11 and July 22; the board noted the final budget must be adopted no later than the first Tuesday after the first Monday in September. - Adopt tentative EMS district budget for FY 2025–26: $30,268,380. Motion carried by voice vote; the board opened and closed a separate public hearing for the EMS district and directed publication of required notices. - Approve Resolution No. 3106 (budget adjustment to reflect unscheduled sheriff’s-office revenue). Motion carried by voice vote; revenue identified as reimbursements from some cities and the state for sheriff services. - Approve agreement for Expo Idaho and a concessionaire agreement; approve Barber Park Education Event Center agreement; approve Agreement No. 30811 (intergovernmental joint powers agreement with Garden City for collection of development impact fees). Motions carried by voice vote. - Approve Change Order No. 1 to Agreement No. 30381 (courthouse stairwell security cameras) — decrease of $12,000. Motion carried by voice vote. - Approve claims journal dated 07/25/2025, personnel actions, tax cancellations and several meeting minutes. Motions carried by voice vote. - Table RFP EMS RFP 25059 (Ada County paramedics collection services) to the Aug. 12 open-business meeting for final ranking and award recommendation. Motion to table carried by voice vote.

Supporting details and clarifications - The board stated that the proposed county tentative budget of $358,822,966 is $1,800,000 less than last year’s adopted budget; commissioners and staff noted it is a tentative figure that may be reduced (but not increased) before final adoption. - County staff reported a recent reduction in state revenue sharing, estimated by the budget office at roughly $9 million over two years compared with the prior trend; commissioners referenced that loss while describing prior and ongoing budget reductions. - Resolution No. 3106 reflects unscheduled revenue to the sheriff’s office, primarily reimbursements from cities that contract for sheriff-provided police services. - The RFP for collection services drew eight proposers (Automated Accounts; Bonneville Collections; CB1 Inc.; Cedars Business Services LLC; Diversified Adjustment Services Inc.; First Point Collection Resources Inc.; Medical Recovery Services; RTR Financial Services Inc.). Staff requested time to evaluate proposals and return with a recommendation. - Change order 1 (Agreement 30381) closed out the courthouse stairwell camera project with a $12,000 decrease reported as remaining funds.

Meeting procedure and next steps - The board directed publication of the tentative budgets and related notices; public hearings were already held June 11 and July 22 per the motion language. Final budget adoption is scheduled to occur no later than the statutory deadline (first Tuesday after the first Monday in September). The RFP award will return to the board at the Aug. 12 meeting after staff evaluation.

Ending - The board adjourned the open-business meeting after approving routine items and setting follow-up dates for final budget adoption and RFP award consideration.