Kootenai County Poised To Revamp Political System Bill Would Allow Counties To Change Their Way Of Government

It takes six elected officials to prepare a single homeowner’s property tax bill in Idaho.

A county assessor determines land values. Three commissioners set a budget. A county clerk determines tax rates. A treasurer calculates the bill and mails it.

It’s been this way for 100 years. It’s the law.

But “it’s a clumsy, inefficient way to do business,” said Kootenai County Administrator Tom Taggart.

In 1996, however, that and other clumsy government practices may begin to change - especially in Kootenai County.

State Rep. Ruby Stone, R-Boise, will introduce a bill this spring allowing counties to change their organizational structure. Two-thirds of state voters in 1994 approved a statewide constitutional amendment paving the way for the legislation.

If it passes - and it’s widely supported now - Kootenai County is expected to be among the first to attempt reform.

Under provisions of the bill, the county could:

Add an elected administrator.

Increase the number of commissioners to five or seven.

Make commissioners part-time.

Replace other elected officials - like the prosecutor or sheriff - with paid professionals.

It’s too soon to say what combination of changes Kootenai County will propose, but “I think it’s our obligation to put a couple of these forms (of government) to the voters next year,” said Commission Chairman Dick Compton.

The result could be increased efficiency, savings in tax dollars and a more unified government.

Or not.

“It can be more efficient, but what we’ve observed is that most voters like to elect people to positions,” said Judy Mathre, associate director of the local government center at Montana State University in Bozeman. “You can make a good case for appointing them, but whether or not it makes sense to voters is another story.”

The commission form of government is a throwback to 10th century England, when counties were established to collect the king’s taxes and defend his law. It is still the most common government form in the United States’ 3,042 counties.

Idaho is among 14 states that do not already allow alternate forms of county government. Small counties have a hard time with “one-size-fits-all government,” Rep. Stone said.

“Idaho has counties with 750 people in them,” Stone said. “To have all those elected officials is ridiculous.”

Treasurers, clerks, assessors, sheriffs and prosecutors traditionally are elected to ensure independence. Under that structure, county commissioners can’t pressure a sheriff or prosecutor to arrest enemies or not arrest friends.

But it also allows for political infighting.

Three years ago, Prosecutor Bill Douglas threatened to sue county commissioners when the board set up its own legal department. Other elected officials this year agreed to let commissioners reorganize county purchasing to save money - but they didn’t have to.

“The clerk could snub his nose and say he didn’t want to play along,” Taggart said.

Right now, the county’s eight elected officials run departments that use six different computer systems, said Pat Raffee, executive director of Concerned Businesses of North Idaho. Software often is incompatible, networking nearly impossible.

Why? “Because they all have decision power,” she said. “It’s ridiculous.”

A new structure could make the county operate more like a business. Instead of having a clerk, assessor and treasurer splitting duties, the county could hire a financial director to oversee all money matters.

Appointed positions would likely require higher salaries, Compton said, but would save duplication of effort and may eliminate the need for other positions.

A redesign would increase the policy-setting power of county commissioners. But making commissioners part-time would also reduce Compton’s own salary. It would ensure county employees worked toward goals set by one body - county commissioners.

Taggart, a Democrat, said one political party also would less likely control every seat on a larger, part-time board, as Republicans do now. Minority opinions would at least get more frequent airing.

In states where the traditional commission form of government can be abandoned, changes earn mixed reviews.

“We are far more flexible,” said Cheryl Beatty, executive of Montana’s Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, population 10,000.

“If someone comes in to pay taxes or get a vehicle assessed, it’s quick and easy and we’re not sending them in a hundred directions,” she said. “Our departments must coordinate and work with one another because I do the hiring and the firing.”

She is elected to office and serves much as a chief executive at a business, running day-to-day operations of the county. County commissioners serve merely as policymakers.

But there is still internal squabbling.

“Commissioners can’t go order someone in the road department to plow something,” said Beatty. “They sometimes wish to interfere, but they don’t have the power.”

Lorna Jorgensen, a policy analyst with the Idaho Association of Counties, said if Kootenai County attempted a new structure, it could pit traditionally dual Idaho goals - limited government and independence - against each other.

“People feel elected officials are more responsive,” she said.

Until three years ago, Anaconda-Deer Lodge’s chief law enforcement officer and county manager were appointed. Voters were dissatisfied, Beatty said, but commissioners refused to fire them.

So voters changed the structure again, and made the positions elected. She was elected county executive. Voters re-elected the chief cop.

Stone said Kootenai, Ada and Twin Falls counties would likely be the first to attempt some kind of change if her bill passes. Kootenai County’s commissioners said they plan to set up study groups this winter to review options and get voter reaction.

“I don’t see an exact form we’d like to see county government take,” Compton said. “But if you really want to bring about change and economies of scale, you need a new organization.”

, DataTimes MEMO: These sidebars appeared with the story: ALLOWING CHANGES State Rep. Ruby Stone, R-Boise, will introduce a bill this spring allowing counties to change their organizational structure. If it passes, Kootenai County is expected to be among the first to attempt reform.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Kootenai County commissioners want to restructure county government. Changes could include: adding more commissioners; making their jobs part-time; replacing some elected positions with appointed professionals; adding an elected county manager; or giving an appointed manager more authority. Should county government be redesigned? If so, how? If not, why not? We’d like to hear your thoughts. Give a call to Cityline in Coeur d’Alene at 765-8811 using a Touch-Tone phone. Punch in category 9895. Please leave a name and telephone number with your message. A reporter may call you. Cityline is a free service, but normal longdistance charges apply.