Purpose and Responsibilities

The Idaho Association of Highway Districts (IAHD) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan service organization dedicated to the improvement of highway districts. It was designed with the objectives to oversee legislation affecting highway districts; educate highway district officials to continually improve management policies and practices; and assist members to find or obtain technical and legal services.

The IAHD is funded annually through dues paid by member highway districts and revenues generated by IAHD services. The bylaws of the IAHD provide that a Board of Directors shall be comprised of highway district commissioners who are elected at the IAHD Annual Convention by the membership to aid in governance of the Association. A nominated five-member Executive Committee has the authority to manage the legislative matters and routine affairs of the Association. The president has the authority to appoint the executive director to serve at the pleasure of, and under the direction of the Executive Committee. It is the executive director’s responsibility to manage the affairs of the IAHD under direction of the Board.

About Highway Districts

In 1911 the Legislature established highway districts to improve and maintain local roads within their jurisdiction. This act, known as the Highway District Law of the State of Idaho, outlines the responsibilities, requirements, and funding for highway districts, commissioners, and employees (Ch. 55, § 1, 1911 Idaho Sess. Laws 121, 122).

Today, the Gem State has a total of 63 highway districts that oversee supervision of over 12,000 miles of road. Each highway districts is responsible to plan, design, construct, preserve, and maintain roads and bridges within their jurisdiction that are not under control of a state agency such as an incorporated city, or federal control.

Why Join IAHD

The IAHD represents highway districts with a united front to the legislature and serves as a resource to its members. The Association strives to provide opportunities for members to exchange ideas, techniques, and solutions to common challenges and concerns. Members are invited and encouraged to attend regional meetings, gatherings, and the annual convention hosted by IAHD. At such events, well-respected speakers discuss legislation, legal issues, innovation to road construction, and the future of transportation in Idaho.

Benefits of membership include

• Assistance to obtain technical or legal services
• Guidance for improving management policies and practices
• Training and education on techniques and skills for road and bridge construction and maintenance
• Representation and advocacy at the Idaho Capitol to promote highway district interests
• In-depth overview of legislation concerning local roads and highway district funding
• Invitation to the IAHD Annual Convention
• Access to the Wynkoop Legal Program for cost effective phone consultations
• Eligibility for the IAHD Scholarship to aid in the cost of higher education for highway district employees, children, and grandchildren

Through recent advocacy efforts the IAHD has influenced the following legislation:

• Passage of HB312, providing additional revenue for highway districts from a 7 cent gas tax increase
• Inclusion of highway districts in the surplus eliminator, resulting in a 60% / 40% split between state and local jurisdictions
• Ensuring a drafting error was corrected to appropriate and transfer surplus eliminator monies to the Strategic Initiatives Program for construction projects
• Blocking legislation that would decrease revenue for highway districts through exemption of particular business personal property taxes