Kootenai County officials talk discretionary spending

COEUR d’ALENE — Kootenai County commissioners may examine how discretionary funds for bonuses or employee appreciation efforts are allocated during the fiscal year 2026 budget season.

Commissioner Bruce Mattare told the board during Tuesday’s status update meeting that he’d like to see the county implement a method to make sure discretionary spending is equitable across departments. 

“At least for this budget season, I’d like to see the budgets without these bonuses,” he said. 

Mattare suggested that crafting a formula that all departments use could reduce feelings of resentment or perceived unfair treatment among county employees. 

“We quite often get the 'me too' movement here when someone gets pay that others perceive to not be fair,” he said. “You get three or four other people saying, ‘Well, what about me?’ You don’t get that in the private sector. I’m not averse to having employee appreciation. I’m averse to it being different in every department.” 

Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris told commissioners he favors offering competitive wages without bonuses, but added that he believes some level of spending toward employee appreciation helps to foster a positive workplace environment and retain employees. 

Certain types of additional compensation, such as appreciation banquets, are commonplace and expected in fields like law enforcement, Norris said. 

“We’re competing with other employers who offer these types of things to their employees,” he said. “I think we should consider that.” 

Norris said discretionary spending across his entire agency totals around $92 per employee annually. 

Commissioner Leslie Duncan said that while she doesn’t view KCSO’s discretionary spending as excessive, it wouldn’t be feasible for all county departments to spend similarly. 

“You have some departments who do show appreciation at a much lower rate than $92 per person,” she said. “Their people are not dissatisfied or looking elsewhere to find out what other people are getting.” 

Commissioner Marc Eberlein said he previously worked in an industry where employees were compensated solely based on the work performed with no additional incentives. 

“If you didn’t make anything, you didn’t get jack,” he said. “When I come from that standard, if this is a nice place to be and has nice things and the finest stools and lunches, that bothers me.” 

    Duncan
  

    Eberlein