Kootenai County cuts staff

Kootenai County has eliminated another 10 positions, bringing to 20 the number of staff reductions that have occurred since two new commissioners took office in January.

The recent reductions in the adult misdemeanor probation, juvenile probation, building and grounds, noxious weeds and solid waste divisions will result in almost $430,000 in savings from annual wages and benefits, the commissioners said in a news release.

Combined with the position eliminations announced in April, that brings annual savings to $845,000 since reductions began. Commissioner Dan Green said then that an internal review begun by the previous administration continued when he and Commissioner Jai Nelson took office.

In the adult misdemeanor probation department, the pretrial services program was eliminated because it is not a mandated county service. In juvenile probation, decreased demand allowed the county to eliminate one full-time position.

Three positions were eliminated in building and grounds by consolidating workload. In the solid waste department, two positions were eliminated and “salary incentives were distributed to select staff for additional workload and oversight duties,” the release said.