Kathy M. Ackerman
Idaho County Clerk/Auditor
kackerman@idahocounty.org
320 West Main Street, Rm 5
Grangeville, Idaho 83530
Phone: (208) 983-2751
Fax: (208) 983-1428
Constitutional and statutory laws give this one elective county office five distinct titles:
- Clerk of the District Court
- Auditor
- Recorder
- Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners
- Chief Elections Officer of the County.
The Idaho Constitution established the position of Clerk of the District Court and provides for the election of this position every four years (Article 5, Section16). A separate section of the state constitution provides that the Clerk of the District Court shall be ex officio Auditor and Recorder (Article 18, Section 6). State law provides that the Clerk of the District Court be ex-officio Auditor, Recorder and Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners (31-2001 and 34-112). In addition the election laws specify the duties of the County Clerk as Clerk of the District Court in the electoral process (32-112). The County Clerk also oversees County Medical Indigent Services.
DUTIES AS EX-OFFICIO AUDITOR
The Auditor acts as the County Budget and Accounting Officer. Responsibilities include compiling the budget requests and submitting the budget to the Board of County Commissioners, recording appropriations made to county agencies, the outstanding liabilities against these appropriations and the expenditures made against the appropriations; keeping accounting records on the revenues, expenditures and balances in each county fund. The Auditor also prepares and remits warrant/checks to employees, vendors, and other persons entitled to payment. All moneys received by various county offices are recorded in financial records.
The county auditor works closely with the county treasurer in many phases of the accounting activities. The auditor must keep accounts current with the treasurer (31-2304). All moneys received by the various county offices must be delivered to the county auditor. The county auditor lists the source and amount of such receipts, apportions them to the proper fund and account on an “auditor’s certificate” and delivers the money and certificate to the county treasurer who is then authorized to deposit them in the bank. The auditor must also examine and settle the accounts of all persons indebted to the county or holding moneys payable to the county treasury (31-23030). The county auditor must on the second Monday of each month, transmit to the clerk of every taxing district the amount of all moneys paid into the treasury and apportioned to such taxing district on or after the second Monday of the preceding month. In the months of July and January, however, the moneys may be transmitted no later than the 25th of the month (63-1202).
DUTIES AS EX-OFFICIO CLERK OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
The county auditor is designated by law as the ex officio clerk of the board of county commissioners (31-707). As clerk of the commissioners, the duties of this position include the following (31-708).
- Recording all proceeding of the board;
- Recording resolutions and decisions on questions concerning the raising of money and allowance of accounts against the county;
- Recording the vote of each member on any question;
- Signing all orders made and warrants issued by the board of county commissioners for the payment of money;
- Preserving and filing all accounts acted upon by the board;
- Preserving and filing all petitions and recording the action of the board on these petitions and application;
- Recording all orders levying taxes;
- Performing all other duties required by law or by any rule or order of the board.
- Clerks (or their deputies) prepare the agenda for meetings of the county commissioners and attend the meeting to provide information and advice. After the meeting, they prepare the formal record of the proceedings. They may also write letters and make telephone contacts in accordance with the instructions of the board.
- The clerk or their designee is required to take applications for any indigent person desiring aid from the county (31-3404; 31-3504), and to immediately investigate or cause to be investigated the grounds of such application.
DUTIES AS EX-OFFICIO RECORDER
The recorder is responsible for recording, filing, and indexing a large number of documents. The recorder procures these documents as the business of his/her office requires. The recorder has custody of, and must keep all books, records, maps, and papers deposited in his/her office (31-2401). These documents are essential for many types of legal transactions and are frequently referred to by attorneys, title companies, real estate brokers, and other in the county. The Recorder collects fees for recording and providing copies of legal documents.
CLERK OF THE DISTRICT COURT
The clerk of the district court performs duties prescribed in the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure (a volume of the Idaho Code) and in the rules and practices of the court (1-1001). The clerk or a deputy must attend in person every term of the district court in the county (1-1002). In many counties in Idaho, the clerk of the district court designates deputies to handle the duties and responsibilities of the district court, to include making entries, collects fees, and acting as the clerical arm of the court.
Past and Present Idaho County Clerks
2011 – Present Kathy M. Ackerman
1987 – 2011 Rose E. Gehring
1982 – 1986 Joyce Hart
1975 – 1982 Bob J. Waite
1973 – 1974 Virginia Ricketts
1947 – 1972 Carl T. Reuter
1919 – 1947 Henry Telcher
1915 – 1918 John P. Eimers
1911 – 1914 J. A. Bradbury
1903 – 1910 J. I. Overman
1894 – 1902 A. W. Talkington
1892 – 1893 C. W. Case
1885 – 1892 T.J. Rhoads – died while in office, Nov. 1892
1883 – 1884 J. B. Chamberlein
1878 – 1883 W. S. M. Williams
1869 – 1878 B. G. Morris
