County schedules town hall for March 31

Though the November election is eight months away, Commissioner Leslie Duncan is kicking off the $20 million courthouse educational campaign with a town hall at the end of the month. 

Offering two sessions — from 10 a.m. to noon and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. — on March 31, Duncan will host an open forum in the county administration building, answering questions and delivering an informational presentation. Both sessions will be available through the Kootenai County YouTube page, a phone-in link or in person. 

"Now more than ever, citizens need to be involved in local government," Duncan said. "How it works, what decisions are being made, and the limitations facing the county." 

Duncan said she plans on reinforcing why the county needs the courthouse facility, the various funding options, and responding to constituent queries. Some of the available financing options discussed by the county and advisories include pulling from the forgone balance, an annual appropriation lease, and putting the cost out to bond. 

A county statement expressed that retrieving public input is critically important for this project in advance of the November election, which will likely feature a general obligation bond to finance the building.

"I hope citizens will be educated on the current challenges the county is facing with providing services during growth and funding for those services," Duncan said. "All I can do is offer my time to help people know what is happening in their community. It will help if people will come."

Initially, the county had considered placing the bond on the May ballot. However, in a meeting earlier this month, the commissioners decided it would be in the project's best interest to push back the deadline. Duncan suggested the delay during a March 8 meeting after becoming concerned that other ballot measures — including the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue bond and Post Falls School District levy — could take attention away from the issue.

During the meeting, the commissioners agreed that their education timeline would be less "hot and heavy" and put them in a better position for potential success by pushing out the courthouse building bond. While specifics for the bond have not been finalized, it would cost a total of $20 million and need two-thirds majority approval to pass. 

Submit questions in advance: kcbocc@kcgov.us