Meet Lincoln Co. Commissioner candidate Josh Letcher

Name: Josh Letcher

Age: 42

Family: I have an amazing family that I would like to see remain in Lincoln County. My boys are the sixth generation on the West Kootenai and I want to see Lincoln County prosper so my children, grandchildren and beyond have the ability to remain here.

Occupation: Lincoln County Commissioner          

Community involvement: For over 25 years I have been a volunteer on different boards, groups, and collaboratives, I’ve written letters, been involved, attended public meetings regarding timber, mining, recreation, land development, community development and multitude of other issues that affect our county. I was involved before I was a county commissioner because I care about the future of Lincoln County. I don’t want my children to have to move away.

The county has received $12 million in Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency funds in the last two fiscal years. What do you think the county should use the money for? 

Lincoln County received the LATCF funds in 2023. A portion of the funds filled the 2024 budget deficit. Another portion will be used to fill the 2025 budget deficit. The remaining $10M will be put in an interest-bearing account. The interest (approx. $400-600k per year) will be used to help offset the nearly depleted road fund. For decades the road fund was derived from stumpage fees from timber sales. That is no longer possible, and the savings account is almost run out.

Do you feel the county’s problems with elections in the last several years are about integrity or human error?

Letcher declined to answer the question.

What should the county’s plan be when and if illegal squatting becomes a bigger problem? 

I would discourage anyone in Lincoln County from allowing people to squat on their property.

What other issues should the county address? 

The biggest issues in Lincoln County are the budget and lack of revenue. State law only allows the county to increase its property tax revenue by half the rate of inflation. That means the county has gotten behind at half the rate of inflation since the law was written in 1986. Just in the past couple years the county insurance has increased almost $200k. 

The price of fuel has doubled. That’s a major expense for the Sheriff’s department. The price of a truck load of road oil in 2019 was around $35,000 and chip sealed 9/10th’s of a mile of road. That same truck load of oil cost almost $75,000…

If anyone has any questions feel free to reach me at 406-249-8909.