As many people are talking about recent policy changes in Idaho, there is a lot of conversation about what certain branches of government, especially the local government, have and do not have control over. Particularly, the local government. So, let’s get into it.
Let’s start with the beginning. According to the state of Idaho’s educational standards in Civics, a local government is in charge of the everyday lives of most Idahoans. This includes drinking water, sewer services, schools, irrigation water, roads, police, courts, jails and trash disposal.
The local government does not have total control, however. They only have control of those things given to them within the Idaho statutes. This is called Dillon’s rule, and comes from Judge John Dillon, a federal judge in the nineteenth century who wrote that local governments were “creatures of the state” and therefore only had the power to do what the state allowed them to.
As Idaho is a Dillon’s rule state, Idaho law must define every single power that local governments have. Idaho Statutes list off several things that local governments are allowed to do within Title 50; this includes the allotment and care of utilities, including water, sewer, and power, and administering business licenses for businesses within the city.
There are also other kinds of local governments outside of just your city government, like county offices, or even water, fire or highway districts. These divisions, in theory, help the different officials make better choices that serve a larger area, especially in small cities, or cities that are closer together.
These powers are important. Local government ensures your water is clean, your roads are paved and the restaurants you eat at are clean. Local governments are also the people who regulate if your neighbors can have large animals, and help fund public summer programming for the children in your area to take part in.
Ultimately, local government gives a lot of structure to our lives, and it provides many of the things we need to continue living where we do. But it is important to know what local government does, and what needs to be brought up in other forms of government.
Abigail Spencer can be reached at arg-opinion@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @ABairdSpencer