Hayden seeks county support for restructured law enforcement contract, requests auditing review

Hayden Mayor Allen Davis and City Administrator Lisa Aylport asked the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners on June 24 to back a restructured law enforcement services contract that would place a county liaison in Hayden City Hall and realign how the city funds deputies as the city grows.

The proposal follows a 2023 levy Hayden passed to increase funding for contracted law enforcement beginning in 2024. “At the end of the day we’re all serving the same taxpayer,” Mayor Allen Davis said, describing the city’s effort to close gaps between what the city pays and the department’s loaded per‑officer cost. Davis said the city’s paid labor rate for law enforcement “has almost tripled in the last 4 years,” and that fiscal‑year 2026 budgeting is the time to realign manpower and costs.

County commissioners and staff told the city delegation they need to agree on a common set of cost numbers before approving a new multi‑year contract. Commissioner Eberline raised several contract provisions she…