Kootenai County payables now online

As of this week, folks can keep track of Kootenai County spending online.

The county clerk announced on Thursday that county payables are now posted on the county website, no longer requiring a public information request to be viewed.

"The public was the reason we decided to do it," said Clerk Cliff Hayes. "The public had indicated an interest in having stuff online."

The move will probably cut down on the record requests his office sees, Hayes said, and make this information a little more accessible.

Commissioner Jai Nelson stated in a press release that her campaign had focused on increasing trust in county government.

The commissioners have worked with the clerk to get the county checkbook online in a clear and descriptive format, Nelson reported.

"Ada County has provided their expenditures online for some time, and I felt very strongly Kootenai County needed to provide this information for our citizens as well," she stated.

To view county payables, visit www.kcgov.us, click on Auditors and then Accounts Payable Reports.

The public is concerned with how government is spending money, Hayes said.

"This is an open opportunity to review the material and see if they have any questions," he said.