This is Part 3 of my series on policy and how it affects you. Good policy can lead to a higher quality of life and lower taxes. Bad policy creates dissatisfaction and greater tax burden. Understanding how good policy can affect you -- and understanding why it's so important to find candidates for office who understand policy -- can make all the difference to your bank account and quality of life. In this segment, you will see how your taxes are affected by poor public safety

Is the world upside down? Sometimes it feels that way. Whether it's national or local politics, people focus on how much they like a person (or not) -- as opposed to the policy that person espouses. It's this intentional effort of focusing on personality (whether we think somebody is good or bad) that leads us to become disenchanted with the political process. It shouldn't be this way, and we can fix it easily. In part 1 I discussed how we are susceptible to emotional manipul

Why This Decision Matters After three days of testimony, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) deliberated and voted to maintain the Homestead Exemption (HOEX) for Allyson Knapp. I am aware that this outcome was not the decision the County Assessor supported, and I do not take lightly the concerns he raised. This was a difficult decision, and I carefully reviewed all documentation and testimony presented to the BOCC before reaching my conclusion. Cases like this are rare,

Likeability is crucial in politics as a core component of electability, often acting as an initial filter for voters That quote is an adaptation of a phrase often associated with Stanford professor Robert Sutton's book The No Asshole Rule . Its idea is that poor behavior is not a substitute for sound policy. In today's upside-down world, it seems like people focus on how good (or bad) a person is -- as opposed to the policy that person espouses. It's this intentional effort o

It's been a while. A lot has happened and is happening in your county government. In the coming days and weeks I will start reporting on the important issues, what is happening in your county government and how it affects you. Meanwhile, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and an opportunity to enjoy family and friends. Sincerely, Bruce E. Mattare

As a representative committed to the well-being of our community, I believe every tax dollar should be spent with purpose and transparency. While some may advocate for spending without a clear plan or project in place, my focus remains on ensuring that your hard-earned money is invested wisely. Would you want to pay $1,000 a month without a project or reason in mind? Neither would I. That's why I'm dedicated toward finding opportunities that save taxpayer money whenever possi

That's the question many county residents ask. This concern highlights a growing issue with our current public transit system. While the bus service primarily benefits residents of cities like Coeur d'Alene, Hayden and Post Falls, taxpayers across the entire county are footing the bill. This has sparked a necessary discussion on how transit costs are allocated, and it’s time to explore solutions that ensure fairness for everyone.   Join the Conversation: Town Hall on Public T

Above is one of many license plate readers in our community. Further, this technology is already installed on many law enforcement agency...

Whether it's business or government, there's always organizational inefficiency. The question is, "to what degree?" In government it is...

I had the good fortune of seeing President Trump speak in person this past weekend. It was an amazing experience to be so close to such a...

The above image is linked to a video from Theo Wold. He worked for the Trump administration, was Raul Labrador's Campaign Manager, former...

Great News! We finally released a creation of mine: The Growth Dashboard of County Service Levels (click here). You see, in the private...

Last night Sheriff Norris held his re-election kickoff party at the Coeur d'Alene Inn. The turnout was amazing and it was great to see...

As many of you know, I've expressed a lot of concern over the Justice Center Expansion project. Mostly because up until today, we never...

I get a lot of questions from constituents asking how much money is really wasted in our County budget. The short answer is: None. Sure,...

Last night we held a first-of-its-kind town hall the county's criminal justice system and the crime it's fighting. In it you will see how...

It's true. Sure, there's an Impact Fee statute, but it has a catch that works against you, the county taxpayer. Please allow me to...

I first want to say "Thank You" to each and every one of you who supported me and had confidence that I would do a good job as your...

The BOCC had a public meeting today to discuss the Assessor recording employees and other elected officials without their knowledge....