Voters came out against Kootenai County managing Citylink on Tuesday night, a decision that could greatly impact the bus system's future. 

The Board of County Commissioners placed an advisory question on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, asking if county taxpayers should "be responsible for managing a bus system that benefits Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, Post Falls and Dalton Gardens." 

A little more than 57% of Kootenai County voters indicated they don't want the county to manage Citylink, a total of 38,530. The remaining 28,756 voters said yes.

Citylink serves Coeur d’Alene, Dalton Gardens, Hayden, Huetter and Post Falls, with three routes and 81 stops. The program also provides paratransit services for people with ADA-eligible functional limitations who cannot use fixed-route buses. There is no fare to ride Citylink buses.    

The advisory vote carries no obligation to compel a change in public transit services. But Kootenai County Commissioner Leslie Duncan said previously that a "no" vote could have major implications for the future of Citylink. 

"That result could be used politically by commissioners to bully and intimidate cities into a joint powers agreement to operate transit," she told The Press in October. 

Commissioner Bruce Mattare has said the results of the advisory question vote could inform commissioners' decisions. 

Mattare brought the advisory question forward in August. He has long pushed for cities to shoulder more responsibility for public transit services. 

City leaders declined Mattare's 2024 proposal for a joint-powers agreement, indicating they were satisfied with their current level of involvement and the county's management of the bus system. 

The Federal Transit Authority and Idaho Transportation Department grants primarily fund Citylink. The program receives match funds from the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and Kootenai Health, as well as contributions from participating cities, with Coeur d'Alene paying the lion's share, typically more than $100,000.  

The county budgeted a little more than $65,000 for the transit program in fiscal year 2025. For fiscal year 2026, the county budgeted about $3,700 for Citylink. Federal grants cover the salaries of Citylink employees and the county receives indirect cost reimbursement for grant administration.