(Pocatello for Accountable Government Entities, October 13, 2025)
Pocatello for Accountable Government Entities, a local government watchdog group, sent each City Council and Mayoral candidate a questionnaire focused on current issues the city faces. Below are City Council Candidate Jim Young’s responses:
1. The Right-of-Way (ROW) fees currently built into the three Enterprise Department Budgets are nearly identical to interfund fees that were ruled unlawful in Nez Perce district court. Do you support or oppose the elimination of these fees? Why?
I oppose any fees that are found to be unlawful, but as a city councilor, I would want to understand the full legal and budgetary impact before calling for elimination. I’m not a lawyer, so I would rely on legal counsel and financial analysis to guide decisions like this. That said, if these fees are in legal jeopardy, I believe we should proactively plan for alternatives—especially to avoid a budget crisis that could affect essential services. Pocatello deserves a budget that is both responsible and resilient, and that means preparing for all possibilities.
2. Do you support or oppose the “One City” concept of combining Chubbuck and Pocatello? Why?
Until both communities clearly support the idea, I lean opposed to full consolidation. That said, Pocatello and Chubbuck are deeply intertwined, and we need to ensure the burdens of growth, infrastructure, and services are shared more equitably. I support efforts to collaborate on things like transportation, emergency services, and economic development to reduce duplication and avoid placing an unfair burden on Pocatello taxpayers. If future collaboration proves successful and the public supports it, we can re-evaluate the idea of combining into one city—but only with fairness and community input at the center.
elected official accused of sexual harassment, etc.)?
Yes. Transparency builds trust, and we need more of both in local government. While some lawsuits or accusations may lack merit, the public still deserves to know when serious allegations or issues arise—especially when they involve elected officials or city liability. Our current policies should go beyond minimum legal disclosure and reflect our city’s need to rebuild public confidence. As a council member, I would work to ensure Pocatello becomes a model for open, honest, and accountable governance.
