Kootenai County commissioners review FY26 capital requests, mark many items approved for now and cut some jail items

Kootenai County commissioners on June 11 reviewed the FY26 capital (C) budget, approved multiple restricted‑fund capital requests and leases as presented, and left several larger property‑tax funded items “for now” while directing staff to return with more details.

Brandy Falcon, speaking for the county’s budget staff, told the Board that recent changes to how the state tax commission interprets redevelopment (URD) closures added two revenue lines — a $97,000 URD return from Spirit Lake (estimated at 90%) and a one‑time $162,000 URD adjustment — and that the current preliminary summary shows a $899,000 deficit at a 0% tax increase. Falcon said a 1% tax increase reduces the deficit to $279,000, a 2% increase produces a $340,000 surplus and a 3% increase a $960,000 surplus.

The commissioners approved lease costs that are now accounted as capital under new accounting rules, including a $13,000 contract request from AMP for tasers that Falcon said would be funded by property tax. Falcon also reported that lines 1–8 of the CapEx summary — Solid Waste capital requests funded from restricted solid waste balances — were approved by the Board.

Several restricted‑fund parks and vessel items were approved or left in place. The Board approved a split $20,000 parks request for improvements at the Mica Bay boat launch (funded from two restricted park/public‑access…