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Bonner County approves Selkirk and Coeur d'Alene MLS data agreements amid public concern over access
Summary
The board approved license agreements giving the assessor access to sold-data from Selkirk and Coeur d'Alene MLSs; Selkirk will charge $45/month for sold-data access, Coeur d'Alene waived its fee. Residents and commissioners raised concerns about proprietary MLS data, Idaho's nondisclosure rules, and how taxpayers can obtain comparables.
Bonner County commissioners on Nov. 18 approved two license agreements to give the assessor's office access to sold-data from local multiple-listing services (MLS). Assessor Dennis Engelhardt said the agreements will help the assessor perform valuations and support the board of equalization process.
Engelhardt told the board the Selkirk MLS agreement runs from Dec. 1, 2025 to Nov. 31, 2027 and the current fee for sold data is $45 per month. He said the Coeur d'Alene MLS offered Bonner County access at no monthly fee and that the county needs signatures on the agreement pages before finalization. Engelhardt also corrected an Idaho code citation in the memorandum, citing (in the meeting) Idaho Code 74-107 as the statute governing exempt information.
During public comment and deliberation residents and commissioners expressed frustration that MLS sold-data is proprietary, that many residents lack MLS access, and that the only routine way to see the data used in an assessment may be through the appeals process. Public speaker Dave Bowman and others suggested that a Public Records Request (PRR) or an appeals process should allow fair access; Engelhardt and others explained that contract terms and statute limit what the county may release absent an appeal or court order. One resident and other commenters encouraged the board to pursue greater transparency for property owners.
The board moved to approve the Selkirk agreement, then approved the Coeur d'Alene MLS agreement (the Coeur d'Alene agreement's fee was waived). Commissioners asked auditing and legal staff to confirm contract signatures and to ensure public-facing guidance on how homeowners can inquire about assessments.
Next steps: signing of the agreements by the appropriate parties and clarification of public procedures for appraisal inquiries and appeal processes.
Vote details: Motions to approve both MLS license agreements passed on roll call.
