County challenges outlined

COEUR d'ALENE — Kootenai County's hefty fund balance has commissioners eyeing multiple facility improvements, including jail expansion.

"We are the envy of most counties in the state with an unappropriated fund balance of approximately $37 million," Commissioner Dan Green said during State of the County presentations before about 175 people at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn on Wednesday.

Green told Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce members and local leaders that commissioners have penciled in, but not appropriated, about $27 million for projects in the near future with the fund balance.

"All of these projects are intended to be funded with current reserves (not by raising taxes)," said Green, adding that $10 million has been penciled for a "rainy day" fund.

Commissioners have authorized staff to seek an architect who will explore the cost and scope of an expansion to the jail's area that houses felons. The expansion would likely be 100 or more "hard cells," or individual cells that are not shared by inmates. A rough estimate for the possible project is $10 million.

"We can't continue to put our heads in the sand and think the problem (of a lack of jail cell space) is going to go away," Green said.

Green, who delivered his last State of the County speech since he won't seek re-election this year, said the county has spent more than $3.5 million on transporting and housing inmates out of county since he became a commissioner in 2011.

"That is almost $700,000 per year that could have gone to an expansion of our existing facilities," he said. "If we don't address the jail overcrowding, those dollars will continue to be spent on out-of-county housing and probably increase."

Coeur d'Alene resident Jim Williamson suggested the concept of a regional facility that could house felons and be funded by multiple North Idaho counties should be explored.

But Commissioner Marc Eberlein said that would be like "herding cats" due to the diversity of the counties and other hurdles.

Eberlein said other funding puzzles already exist, including for the new North Idaho Crisis Center, of which he is a board member.

"We have two years of state funding then we are on our own," he said of the facility that was approved by the state Legislature. "What mechanisms can be used to fund that facility? It's a beautiful (facility), and I'm glad it's there, but who will fund it?"

Eberlein said the facility's funding needs to be fairly shared by all the areas that have access to it.

Other county facility projects being eyed by the commissioners include a possible shared parking area with the city of Coeur d'Alene across Northwest Boulevard from the administration building and courthouse and expanding the Post Falls DMV office, evidence storage areas at the sheriff's office and the justice building.

Eberlein said he has been working to shake trees and create awareness about forest health, especially with wildfire danger. He said a lack of vegetation on the forest floor limits how much moisture is held in the ground.

"We have a ticking time bomb in our forests that could turn into a fire," he said. "We saw nothing (last year compared to the danger that exists) … less than 2,000 acres burned. We have heavy fuel."

Commissioner David Stewart said that, despite recent adversity that included wildfires, crippling storms and several major crimes, Kootenai County remains "strong, resilient and one of the most beautiful places on Earth."

"I am confident that Kootenai County will be ready for all the challenges we face in the future," Stewart said.

Stewart said the Coeur d'Alene Airport, which is operated by the county, played a key role in fighting the region's wildfires. He said there were as many as 45 flight operations departing per hour and a record 1.7 million gallons of fire retardant were used from the facility.

"These efforts most likely saved the town of Bayview," he said.

Kootenai County is the third-most populated county in the state with about 148,000 residents. The county government is operating with a record-high budget of $80.9 million with 82 percent of the amount ($66.7 million) being for mandated services. The total amount has increased 15.8 percent since 2012.

Green said the county's expenses have increased 12.5 percent since 2012, while employee costs have increased 17.1 percent.

The county has 781 full-time equivalent employees, which is an increase of 15 from five years ago. Eleven of the new employees were deputies.

"I am proud to say that over the past five years, the number of employees has been kept in check," Green said. "I think we are doing more with a relatively small change in the number of employees."