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Jefferson County delays formal drought declaration after staff outlines worst-case agricultural losses
Summary
County commissioners reviewed a draft resolution declaring a local drought emergency that staff said could affect 105,000 acres (about 43% of irrigated land) and up to $73 million in assessed value. The board agreed to delay issuing the declaration and to hold a special meeting next week for more input.
The Jefferson County Board heard a draft resolution (No. 2024-18) declaring a local drought emergency on a reading of the document and staff estimates, then agreed to delay issuing the declaration pending additional information and stakeholder input.
Speaker 2 read the draft resolution that would declare ‘‘a local drought emergency exists in Jefferson County’’ and cited multiple Idaho code sections as authority. The transcript’s reading of those statutory citations was fragmented; the draft as read says the resolution was ‘‘done and dated the June 2024.’’
Staff warned of substantial potential impacts if groundwater curtailment persists. ‘‘Jefferson County currently has 243,018 acres of irrigated ag that we assess,’’ Speaker 4 said, adding that a curtailment affecting 105,000 acres would equal about 43% of assessed irrigated acreage. ‘‘It would estimate that there would be, possible 73, $73,000,290 in value that could be affected,’’ the speaker said, characterizing the figures as a ‘‘worst case scenario.’’
Speaker 4 also described a rough tax shift estimate: ‘‘that could potentially shift the tax burden 2% or rough, rough, rough estimate of, $354,629 in tax revenue to other taxpayers,’’ and said staff would work with the State Tax Commission on exemptions or casualty-loss processes. The board and staff emphasized the numbers were preliminary and contingent on many variables; the county’s calculations covered only irrigated valuation and did not include commercial losses or other secondary effects.
Some commissioners urged caution. ‘‘We’ve been asked by different people maybe to hold off on this of actually issuing the declaration,’’ Speaker 1 said, noting some water users were still pumping and requesting a delay until stakeholders could provide input. Speaker 3 confirmed a request to ‘‘hold on till Friday.’’
After discussion the board agreed to schedule a special meeting next week so affected parties can present information before the board takes formal action on Resolution 2024-18. No formal vote on the resolution was recorded at this meeting.
Administrative matters followed: the board directed staff to add a separate development agreement to the next meeting agenda before adjourning.
What happens next: the board set a special meeting for next week to revisit the drought resolution and invited stakeholders to appear and provide additional information before any formal declaration is issued.
