In a pleasant article today in the Press, reporter Tom Hasslinger writes of a zone change that will be requested at tonight’s CdA city council meeting.  He doesn’t refer to any of the controversy related to this land, the zone changes or the funding process.  What a shame.  The public should be aware of how this fiasco has been shoved down their throats, but the Press is keeping it nice and pretty.  Here’s the comment I put under their article online…what are your thoughts?

Mary Souza’s Newsletter

I sat with Dan Green the other day and had a good conversation about the County, public employees and much more. Dan (pictured here) is one of the new Kootenai County Commissioners , along with Jai Nelson, whom, during our discussion, he complimented for her focus and work ethic. These two, as well as new County Clerk Cliff Hayes, offer us in the public a much needed sense of hope.

The County will not raise taxes this year. They eliminated at least 12 underutilized positions. They combed through the budget and sliced out $800,000, but were saddened to discovered the state-mandated indigent care had been estimated at only half its real cost by the previous administration, so the new budget savings were obliterated this legal obligation officially called County Assistance. But they’re trying.

The Commissioners rearranged the medical insurance, saving the county $420,000 in what would have been new premium increases. To do this they required employees to pay more for their spouses but less for their children, because that’s what the statistics revealed as most cost effective. And they’re offering a health savings plan with incentives for improving lifestyle choices, which could save the county even more. The bottom line is that, for the first time in many years, the County’s medical insurance costs will not increase.  (more…)