Kootenai County Advisory Vote - 11/3/26
There is an advisory vote on November 3rd ballot. (Advisory means it is not legally binding.)
"Should County taxpayers be responsible for managing a bus system that benefits Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Post Falls, Dalton Gardens?"
The question uses prejudicial language (in my opinion) towards a "NO" answer and provides confusion as to who the county taxpayers are since all city residents pay county taxes.
It also does not represent the options contemplated by a "NO" answer. Obviously a "YES" could keep status quo. Since it is an advisory vote, the results hold no obligation to compel a change which will further cause confusion to the public should the majority vote "NO".
If the County does not administer/manage the transit program, the cities would have to form a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA). A joint powers agreement is similar to what Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization (KMPO) is - an appointed board that makes decisions without direct accountability to the taxpayers. Additionally, JPAs tend to grow the size of government.
If the cities were to form a JPA to manage our transit program it would cause instability with FTA grants because the JPA would be a brand new entity. It would also reduce the elected Board of County Commissioners control from 100% down to near 0%. As mentioned above, it would have an appointed governing board as opposed to a board directly elected by and accountable to the citizens of Kootenai County.
The Kooteani County Commissioners are the proper governing body for a system that provides service to multiple jurisdictions in the County. First, they are directly accountable to the taxpayers. Second, they have been good stewards of the federal grant money. Third, the County has the experience/expertise to run the program. Fourth, the County provides neutral governance for balancing the desires of the cities directly served by public transportation. Finally, the County receives indirect costs for every transit grant it administers.
Vote YES to keep our transit system directly accountable to the taxpayers.
