TAX: Possible budget solution

There is an easy solution to many of the local taxation problems without affecting any Kootenai County property owners. Create a new tax on all real estate sales of 1% in all future sales. 

July 2026 had 529 home sales at a median price of $575,000. 1% of these figures would create $3,041,750 income for the county to share with the cities in one month. New people moving here would help share the burden of what all local property owners are now having to absorb.

Cities within our county would not have to propose 7% tax hikes on local residents and likely the county would be able to decrease property taxes. Cities could lower impact fees on new developments especially for starter homes for local people. 

We as a community would all win, as well as our cities and county.

BRIAN JORGENSEN

Coeur d’Alene