Title 31, COUNTIES AND COUNTY LAW

31-801. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The boards of county commissioners in their respective counties shall have jurisdiction and power, under such limitations and restrictions as are prescribed by law.

31-802. SUPERVISION OF COUNTY OFFICERS. To supervise the official conduct of all county officers, and appointed boards or commissions of the county charged with assessing, collecting, safekeeping, management or disbursement of the public moneys and revenues; see that they faithfu…

31-803. DIVISION OF COUNTY INTO DISTRICTS. To divide the counties into election precincts, road and other districts required by law, change the same and create others, as convenience requires.

31-804. SUPERVISION OF ELECTIONS. (1) The board of county commissioners must establish, abolish and change election precincts and canvass all election returns. (2) The board must provide all poll lists, poll books, blank returns and certificates, proclamations of election and oth…

31-805. SUPERVISION OF ROADS, BRIDGES, AND FERRIES. The board shall lay out, maintain, control and manage public roads, turnpikes, ferries and bridges within the county, and levy such tax therefor as authorized by law; provided that the board need not lay out, maintain, control, …

31-806. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR PARK OR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES -- DEDICATION -- EMINENT DOMAIN. The board of county commissioners of each county in this state may purchase, lease, obtain by gift or accept by grant from private persons, corporations, the United States, the stat…

31-807. MANAGEMENT OF COUNTY PROPERTY. A board of county commissioners shall have the power and authority to purchase, receive by donation, or lease any real or personal property necessary for the use of the county; preserve, take care of, manage and control the county property, …

31-807A. COMMISSIONERS MUST BE DISINTERESTED. No member of the board must be interested, directly or indirectly, in property purchased for the use of the county, nor in any purchase or sale of property belonging to the county, nor in any contract made by the board or other person…

31-808. SALE OF COUNTY PROPERTY -- GENERAL PROCEDURE -- SALE OF PROPERTY ACQUIRED THROUGH TAX DEED -- PROCEDURE AFTER ATTEMPTED AUCTION -- EXCHANGE OF COUNTY PROPERTY -- SALE OF CERTAIN ODD-LOT PROPERTY -- SALE, EXCHANGE OR DONATION OF PROPERTY TO OTHER UNITS OF GOVERNMENT. (1) A…

31-809. AUDIT OF COUNTY FUNDS. To examine and audit the accounts of all officers having the care, management, collection or disbursement of moneys belonging to the county, or appropriated by law, or otherwise, for its use and benefit.

31-809A. COUNTY ELECTION FUND. There is hereby created the county election fund which shall be established in each county by resolution adopted at a public meeting of the board of county commissioners. Funds received from the state or political subdivisions for conducting electio…

31-810. PAYMENT OF CLAIMS. To examine, settle and allow all accounts legally chargeable against the county, and order warrants to be drawn on the county treasurer therefor, and provide for the issuing of the same.

31-811. LEVY OF TAXES. To levy such tax annually on the taxable property of the county as may be necessary not exceeding the amount authorized by law; and to levy such taxes as are required to be levied by special or local statutes.

31-812. EQUALIZATION OF ASSESSMENTS. To equalize the assessments as provided by title 63, Idaho Code.

31-813. CONTROL OF SUITS. To direct and control the prosecution and defense of all suits to which the county is a party in interest, and employ counsel to conduct the same, with or without the prosecuting attorney, as they may direct.

31-814. INSURANCE OF COUNTY PROPERTY. Where in the discretion of the commissioners it is desirable, they are hereby authorized to make contracts of insurance with any insurance company authorized to transact business within the state providing for insurance against loss by fire, …

31-815. LICENSING OF TOLL ROADS, BRIDGES, AND FERRIES. The board shall grant licenses and franchises, as provided by law, for construction of, keeping and taking tolls on roads, bridges and ferries, and fix the tolls and licenses; provided that the board need not grant licenses a…

31-815A. TRANSFER OF LICENSE APPLICATIONS. Whenever an application is made to the board for an order, franchise or license, relating to any toll road, bridge, ferry, or other subject over which the board has jurisdiction, in which a majority of the board are not disinterested, th…

31-816. FIXING OF SALARIES. To fix the compensation of all county officers and employees, and provide for the payment of the same.

31-817. FILLING OF VACANCIES. To fill by appointment all vacancies that may occur in county offices, except in members of the county board.

31-818. AUTHORITY TO APPOINT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS AND STAFF -- COUNTY COMMISSIONER AS ADMINISTRATOR MAY BE APPOINTED. (1) The board of county commissioners shall be empowered to employ assistants, including administrative assistants, and clerical staff to aid them in fulfill…

31-819. PUBLICATION OF PROCEEDINGS. To cause to be published monthly such statement as will clearly give notice to the public of all its acts and proceedings, and, shall include a brief financial summary indicating the total amount spent from each county fund during the month. A …

31-820. BY-LAWS. To make and enforce such rules and regulations for the government of their body, the preservation of order and the transaction of business as may be necessary.

31-821. ADOPTION OF SEAL. To adopt a seal for their board.

31-822. MAINTENANCE OF FAIR GROUNDS -- TRANSFER OF PROPERTY TO FAIR DISTRICT. To contract to purchase a site, grounds or parks on which to hold public fairs or exhibitions, to care for and maintain the same, regulate the use thereof and, in their discretion, to let, demise or lea…

31-823. MAINTENANCE OF EXHIBITS IN AID OF FAIRS -- ENCOURAGEMENT OF IMMIGRATION AND TRADE. To levy a tax of not to exceed two hundredths per cent (.02%) of market value for assessment purposes on all the taxable property within their respective counties, for the purpose of creati…

31-824. EMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERS. To employ inmates of the county jail upon public road work or other county work in the county under such regulations as the board of county commissioners and the sheriff may prescribe.

31-825. MAINTENANCE OF COUNTY LAW LIBRARY. To contract to purchase and to purchase and provide for care by clerk of district court of such law books and pamphlets as said commissioners may judge from time to time necessary for use of the district court and the county officials an…

31-826. COOPERATION WITH AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORK. To appropriate funds for demonstration work in agriculture and home economics within said counties for the employment of a county agent or county agents in cooperation with the University of Idaho and the United States departm…

31-828. GENERAL AND INCIDENTAL POWERS AND DUTIES. To do and perform all other acts and things required by law not in this title enumerated, or which may be necessary to the full discharge of the duties of the chief executive authority of the county government.

31-829. SALE OR REPLACEMENT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY. Whenever any elective county officer has under his jurisdiction or control any personal property belonging to the county which, in his judgment, is of no further use to the county, he may, with the consent of the board of county c…

31-830. AWARD TO COUNTY SHERIFF OR DEPUTY COUNTY SHERIFF OF HIS HANDGUN AND BADGE UPON RETIREMENT. (1) A county sheriff who retires during or upon the completion of his term of office under the provisions of the public employee retirement system of Idaho or the county's retiremen…

31-831. ABATEMENT OF CATASTROPHIC PUBLIC NUISANCE -- DEFINITIONS. As used in sections 31-831 through 31-834, Idaho Code: (1) "Catastrophic public nuisance" means a condition on federal land where natural resources and biota have been managed or neglected to such an extent as to c…

31-832. DECLARATION OF CATASTROPHIC PUBLIC NUISANCE -- AUTHORITY TO DECLARE AND DEMAND ABATEMENT. (1) The chief executive officer of a county or the county sheriff may determine that a catastrophic public nuisance exists on land within the borders of the county. (2) In evaluating…

31-833. EMERGENCY ABATEMENT OF A CATASTROPHIC PUBLIC NUISANCE. (1) If a chief executive officer of a county or a county sheriff determines that a public nuisance exists on federally managed land, and the chief executive officer of a county or the county sheriff also finds that th…

31-834. LIMITATIONS. Nothing in this act shall limit the authority of the state to manage and protect wildlife under title 36, Idaho Code, or the power of a county.

31-836. LEASE OF COUNTY PROPERTY. Except as otherwise provided by law, the board of county commissioners may lease any property belonging to the county: (1) Without public auction for a term not exceeding five (5) years at such rental as may be determined upon by the unanimous vo…

31-839. COOPERATION WITH AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORK. The board of county commissioners of the several counties within the state of Idaho are hereby authorized and empowered to provide funds for demonstration work in agriculture and home economics within said counties and for the…

31-840. EXTENSION AGENTS -- SALARIES AND EXPENSES. The salary and expenses of such extension agents shall be fixed by the director of the University of Idaho extension division acting in cooperation with the board of county commissioners. The commissioners of said counties are he…

31-844. SUBPOENAS FOR WITNESSES. The board may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of any person and the production of any books, papers or other items relating to the affairs of the county, for the purpose of examination upon any matter within their jurisdiction.

31-845. ENFORCEMENT OF ATTENDANCE AND TESTIMONY. A witness is bound to attend, when served, and to answer all questions which he would be bound to answer in the same case before a court of justice. Obedience to the subpoena, or to an order to attend, or to testify, may be enforce…

31-846. WITNESS FEES NEED NOT BE PREPAID. Neither the officers serving subpoenas nor the witnesses subpoenaed to testify in relation to matters of public concern before the board of county commissioners are entitled to have their fees prepaid, but officers must serve the subpoena…

31-847. LEAVE OF ABSENCE TO OFFICERS. The board of commissioners may grant to any county officer of their respective counties leave of absence from their county and the state, for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days, during which time the absence of such officer does not work…

31-855. NEGLECT OF DUTY BY COMMISSIONERS. Any commissioner who neglects or refuses, without just cause therefor, to perform any duty imposed on him, or who willfully violates any law provided for his government as such officer, or fraudulently or corruptly performs any duty impos…

31-856. MIGRATORY LABOR HOUSING -- COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. The county commissioners may cooperate in any plan providing for the furnishing of housing, lands, labor and material and other assistance in the program sponsored by the United States of America pertaining t…

31-857. SCHOOL, ROAD, HERD AND OTHER DISTRICTS -- PRESUMPTION OF VALIDITY OF CREATION OR DISSOLUTION. Whenever any school district, road district, herd district, or other district has heretofore been, or shall hereafter be, declared to be created, established, disestablished, dis…