Post Falls mayor delivers State of the City address

POST FALLS — Mayor Ron Jacobson said that with all of the growth the city has experienced in recent years, the efforts of city staff are the forces that drive the community forward. 

“The city has over $500 million in assets, but the most important asset we have is our people,” he said during his State of the City address Tuesday at Prairie Falls Golf Club. 

The luncheon was put on by the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce. Construction has continued to be a daily part of the Post Falls cityscape, whether it be commercial, residential or local infrastructure.  

With pushback about multifamily subdivisions within city limits, Jacobson said many of the projects being built this year have been in the works for some time. 

“Everywhere you look, you see apartments going up,” Jacobson said. “Those permits were approved a couple of years ago, but they’re just going up now.” 

The 2024 numbers for Post Falls show that the multifamily building permits for the city decreased from about 200 granted in 2023 to less than 50 permits granted through Oct. 31. 

Commercial building permits stayed steady from 2023 to 2024 and single-family permits increased from about 250 in 2023 to nearly 300 permits. 

Attainable housing is what city officials are attempting to shepherd into the area.

The Miracle on Britton through Panhandle Affordable Housing Alliance will break ground in December and the project is expected to be completed by next year.  

“This is the first of its kind in the area,” Jacobson said. 

Cottage and tiny home ordinances have been added by City Council and since they were passed, three cottage home applications are now pending with the city. 

Jacobson cautioned that landowners and developers seeking to add tiny homes are not allowed to buy up infinite tiny homes on a large acreage. 

“We can’t go on ad infinitum,” Jacobson said.  

Jacobson said House Bill 389 has affected how cities are allowed to utilize revenue sources.  

Because of the projected totals for 2025, Post Falls will be receiving $772,342 less in highway and $762,235 less in sales, making for a $1.49 million less in tax revenues than the city previously would have received. 

Jacobson said the decision to increase taxes was “tough,” but he does not intend levy changes to become a crutch for the city each year.  

He closed out the event by stating he has not determined whether he will run for mayor again and called on community members to respect one another no matter their political stances. 

“You don’t agree with everyone, but we have to accept it, we’re one people,” Jacobson said. 

The State of the City speech by Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson on Tuesday at Prairie Falls Golf Club covered construction projects and future plans and impacts to the area.

    The crowd applauds Mayor Ron Jacobson during the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce State of the City address Tuesday at Prairie Falls Golf Club.

    Anticipated revenue totals for the City of Post Falls in 2025.
  

  

    Yearly building permit totals for the City of Post Falls.