Matheson to seek second term as county treasurer

Kootenai County Treasurer Steven D. Matheson has announced his bid for re-election.

Matheson, who was a political unknown before being elected in 2014, said in a news release announcing his candidacy, that since being elected he has been “quietly making changes within the treasurer’s office during his first term.”

“Matheson prefers to avoid the spotlight and instead takes a more modest approach believing a county treasurer, like other county servants, should rarely become the focus of a story,” the announcement said. “Instead, a county treasurer should be well qualified and dedicated to making things go smoothly.”

His personal philosophy, he said, is to avoid being in the newspaper.

“It really shouldn’t be newsworthy if I am doing my job correctly,” he said.

In announcing his candidacy, Matheson noted that during his first campaign he “emphasized the importance of qualifications and spoke about his education, certifications, professional licenses and his nearly 30-year career in capital markets.”

“Because of these qualifications, Matheson points to his identifying a $5.9 million misclassification of interest income (which had accumulated over decades) from the county’s investment portfolio,” the news release said. “Matheson has also focused on ensuring the safety and soundness of taxpayer money by recommending and implementing a county ordinance adopted by the board of county commissioners allowing the treasurer (and any other elected county official) to perform fingerprint-based criminal history on all staff involved in the collection, safekeeping and distribution of taxpayer dollars. It was important to Matheson that the criminal histories come from the Idaho State Police as well as the FBI.”

The news release said Matheson’s influences during his first term include increasing annual investment interest by nearly $1 million (a seven-fold increase) by increasing the duration of various investment portfolios.

“The county is now using a basic investment philosophy allowing us to better match investment duration to anticipated future expenditures,” Matheson said, in the release.

The county continues to utilize only those investments specifically authorized by the Idaho statutes, he said.

Matheson acknowledged, in his announcement, that he has modestly increased expenditures in a few areas defending his decisions by “funding those increases with cuts from other areas.”

Examples Matheson referenced were reducing his office’s travel expenditures by 35 percent and reducing the number of cellphone stipends.

While acknowledging many accomplishments during his first term, Matheson indicated there is more to do.

“For example, Chief Deputy Laurie Thomas is currently heading an initiative to update the Treasurer’s website to include information not easily accessible to taxpayers. Under the current environment, individual taxpayers must contact each taxing authority to obtain basic information,” Matheson said, in his announcement. “Through the updated website, for example, taxpayers will be able to access information (by taxing authority) regarding voter-approved bonds outstanding, current year’s adopted budget, supporting worksheets used in calculating actuals levy rates, and more.”

Matheson referred to rumors about his interest in becoming the next Idaho State Treasurer.

“Not now, Kootenai County is where my passion is today,” he said, in the release. “I am truly content and happy to serve here in Kootenai County. I hope Kootenai County voters approve of my performance and wish for me to stay.”