Kootenai County voters rejected county management of Citylink in the Nov. 3 general election advisory vote, with approximately 57% opposing the change. The ballot question asked whether county taxpayers should take responsibility for managing the fare-free transit system serving Coeur d’Alene, Dalton Gardens, Hayden, Huetter and Post Falls.
Citylink Management Vote Results
Unofficially, 38,530 voters opposed county management of Citylink, while 28,756 supported it. The Board of County Commissioners placed the advisory question before voters after Bruce Mattare brought it forward in August.
The result does not require any immediate change to Citylink operations or its public transit services. Mattare said the vote could help inform future decisions by county commissioners.
Commissioner Leslie Duncan said the outcome could affect discussions between the county and participating cities. “That result could be used politically by commissioners to bully and intimidate cities into a joint powers agreement to operate transit,” Duncan said.
Citylink Service and Funding in Kootenai County
Citylink runs three routes with 81 stops across its five-city service area. It also offers paratransit service for people with ADA-eligible functional limitations. Riders do not pay fares on Citylink buses.
Federal Transit Authority and Idaho Transportation Department grants provide most of the system’s funding, including employee salaries. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Kootenai Health provide matching funds, while participating cities also contribute.
Coeur d’Alene typically contributes more than $100,000. Kootenai County budgeted a little more than $65,000 for Citylink in fiscal year 2025 and about $3,700 in fiscal year 2026. The county receives indirect-cost reimbursement for administering grants.
Earlier Citylink Agreement Proposal
City leaders declined Mattare’s proposed joint-powers agreement in 2024. The Nov. 3 advisory question did not itself establish such an agreement or transfer Citylink management to Kootenai County.