Assessor no-show at solid waste fee meeting

How Kootenai County will handle solid waste fees in the future remains in question, after assessor Béla Kovacs declared his office won’t administer the fees any longer and he did not attend a special meeting Thursday to discuss the matter.

Assessor won’t administer solid waste fees

Says it falls under commissioners' authority

After solid waste fees were not assessed for thousands of Kootenai County properties in 2023, assessor Béla Kovacs said administering the fees isn’t his office’s responsibility.

Assessor to correct errors

Commissioners directed Kootenai County Assessor Béla Kovacs to correct more than 100 parcels whose property owners were undercharged on their taxes due to an assessor’s office error.

Assessor seeks to correct property roll errors

Kootenai County Assessor Béla has asked commissioners to correct errors on the property roll before a statutory deadline.

Tax commission won’t investigate Kootenai County complaint

The Idaho State Tax Commission said it lacks authority to investigate a complaint about Kootenai County’s failure to provide “accurate and timely” property value information.

Complaint sheds light on errors, delays within assessor’s office

A complaint to the Idaho State Tax Commission about Kootenai County’s failure to provide “accurate and timely” property value information has shed light on work processes in the assessor’s office that led to a $53 million valuation error and delayed the distribution of tax notices.

Kovacs secretly recorded county staff, elected officials

Kootenai County Assessor Béla Kovacs has secretly recorded conversations with his employees and other county elected officials, as well as at least one executive session of the county commissioners.

Assessor withdraws massive public records request

Kootenai County Assessor Béla Kovacs has withdrawn public record requests submitted to the treasurer’s office that were expected to generate many tens of thousands of documents and cost more than $20,000 in employee labor to fulfill.

Assessor pins $53 million error on other county officials

Kootenai County Assessor Béla Kovacs has asked the Idaho State Tax Commission to audit the work processes of five county departments, including his own, according to emails obtained by The Press.

$53 million property value error to delay tax notices

Some taxing districts are affected by the mistake

A typo resulting in a multimillion dollar property value assessment error is expected to affect multiple taxing districts in Kootenai County and delay the distribution of property tax notices.

Kootenai County assessor hires Boyles

Kootenai County commissioners have agreed to allow Assessor Béla Kovacs to hire attorney D. Colton Boyles to represent his office in multiple civil lawsuits but won’t reveal how much Kovacs is authorized to spend.

County commissioners reject assessor’s request for attorney

Kootenai County commissioners have denied Assessor Béla Kovacs’ request to hire attorney D. Colton Boyles to represent his office in two civil lawsuits.

Property value assessment appeals plummet

Significantly fewer Kootenai County property owners have appealed their 2023 value assessments than last year, when a flood of appeals forced the county to ask the state for more time to complete

Kootenai County commissioners approve title fee changes

Kootenai County commissioners have approved changes to vehicle licensing title fees.

Kootenai County commissioners restore assessor's pay

Following a judge’s order, Kootenai County commissioners cast a split vote Tuesday to restore Assessor BELA Kovacs’ salary, which the board cut in half last year after Kovacs failed to perform some of his statutory duties.

Kootenai County Assessor on track for 2023 deadlines

The Kootenai County Assessor’s Office is reportedly on track to meet its statutory deadlines this year.

Kootenai County commissioners ordered to restore assessor’s pay

A judge has ordered the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners to restore Assessor Bèla Kovacs’ salary, which the board cut in half last year after Kovacs missed statutory deadlines and failed to perform some of his duties.

Commissioners question Kovacs on county policy

Kootenai County Assessor Bèla Kovacs faced pointed questions from commissioners on Tuesday about whether he followed policy when he recently placed an employee on administrative leave.

Embattled assessor retains office

Incumbent Duncan wins only contested commissioner race

After an election cycle marked by sharp criticism from his staff, an unprecedented pay cut and a lawsuit, Kootenai County Assessor Béla Kovacs appeared victorious Wednesday in his bid to retain his office over write-in candidate Bob Scott. Meanwhile, Republican incumbent Leslie Duncan won the county’s only contested commissioner rac

County responds to assessor’s suit

Commissioners assert pay cut was lawful

Kootenai County has responded to a court appeal filed by Assessor Bela Kovacs over commissioners’ decision to cut his pay, asking the court to dismiss the petition with prejudice.

Kovacs seeks reversal of commissioners' decision

Assessor files petition for judicial review

A petition for judicial review was filed by Kovacs last week in district court. It alleges that Commissioners Bill Brooks, Chris Fillios and Leslie Duncan exceeded their authority when they made the “unprecedented” decision to slash Kovacs’ pay. He alleges that, in doing so, commissioners have impeded his ability to perform the duties of his office.

Commissioners criticize assessor’s request

Despite reservations about the hefty cost, Kootenai County commissioners reaffirmed their decision Tuesday to allow Assessor Bela Kovacs to hire a private company to conduct property appraisals and assist with training personnel. Commissioners voted 2-1 on the request last week, with Bill Brooks opposing. The estimated cost of the work and services to be performed by Highland Appraisal Inc. under the proposed agreement is $260,000, plus other expenses for travel, lodging, meals, milage and materials.

Commissioners deny assessor’s request for lawyer

Kootenai County commissioners rejected a request from embattled Assessor Béla Kovacs to approve funding for outside legal services. The request came almost two weeks after commissioners slashed Kovacs’ salary in half, from about $90,000 per year to $45,000, citing a failure to perform the duties of his office.

Most county salaries going up — again

County commissioners’ decision this week to reduce Kootenai County Assessor Bela Kovacs’ salary by half comes a year after the commissioners approved generous raises for themselves and other county elected officials, including Kovacs. “A wage study indicated the county electeds were underpaid, and it was substantial,” Commissioner Chris Fillios told The Press Friday.

County commissioners slash assessor’s pay

Citing both a failure and an inability to perform the duties of his office, county commissioners made the unprecedented decision Wednesday night to cut Kootenai County Assessor Béla Kovacs’ salary in half. Effective Oct. 1, Kovacs’ salary will drop from about $90,000 per year to $45,000 per year. Commissioners voted unanimously to cut the assessor’s pay during a public hearing where they also voted to approve a $120 million budget for fiscal year 2023. The board is expected to formally adopt the budget today.

As valuations soar, property taxes may not

Online calculator can estimate tax bill

KCRCC candidates sweep county races

Results show disconnect between North Idaho, rest of state

Results show disconnect between North Idaho, rest of state

Mattare KO's Fillios in commissioner race

Unofficial results show wide margins in contested county races