Survey asks residents to help shape Sandpoint’s future infrastructure priorities 

By Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm
Reader Contributor

Recently, the publisher of this newspaper offered a “Bouquet” to the city of Sandpoint after driving the newly reconstructed Pine Street. He wrote that he “smiled at that smooth glide over fresh asphalt” and was pleased to see his tax dollars invested in infrastructure and road repairs. He closed with a simple statement: “Now do more streets!”

I couldn’t agree more.

The reality is that most residents notice infrastructure only when it fails — or when it is finally repaired. Roads, sidewalks, stormwater systems, parks, parking facilities and public buildings all require ongoing maintenance and periodic replacement. Unfortunately, the cost of construction has risen dramatically while the revenue available to cities has not kept pace.

In Sandpoint, Pine Street and the upcoming Cedar Street reconstruction project represent the only major street reconstruction projects completed or funded over the past two years. Yet our adopted transportation plan identifies more than $100 million in needed street and sidewalk improvements over the next 20 years. At current funding levels, we simply cannot address these needs at the pace residents would like to see.

This is not a challenge unique to Sandpoint. Communities throughout Idaho are grappling with the same reality: Infrastructure built by previous generations is aging faster than current revenues can replace it.

Fortunately, Idaho law provides one potential tool. Resort cities with populations under 10,000 have the ability to ask voters whether they wish to adopt a local option sales tax (LOT) for specific purposes. Unlike property taxes, an LOT captures revenue from visitors, seasonal residents and others who use Sandpoint’s roads, sidewalks, parks, beaches, parking facilities and other public amenities.

Importantly, no final proposal has been developed and no ballot language has been adopted. Over the coming months, the Sandpoint City Council will consider whether to place an LOT measure on the November ballot. If the council chooses to move forward, they will need to determine both the specific projects that would be funded and the duration of the measure. Before those decisions are made, we want to hear directly from the people who live here.

That is why we have launched the Sandpoint 2026 Community Survey.

The survey is not simply asking whether residents support or oppose a local option sales tax. It asks residents to evaluate the condition of our streets and sidewalks; identify transportation and community priorities; rank potential projects; and share their views regarding accountability, project selection, funding duration and other important issues.

Sandpoint voters considered a similar measure in 2024. While it received just over 50% support, it did not reach the 60% supermajority required by Idaho law. If a future proposal is to be considered, we believe it should be informed by broad community input regarding what projects matter most and how residents would like to see any measure structured.

In short, we are asking a fundamental question:

“If Sandpoint has an opportunity to make long-term investments in its infrastructure and community assets, what should those investments be?”

Whether you support an LOT, oppose it or remain undecided, your opinion matters. The survey is designed to help the City Council understand community priorities before making decisions regarding potential ballot language, project selection, or duration.

I encourage Sandpoint taxpayers to take a few minutes to complete the survey and share their thoughts. Good decisions begin with good information, and the more voices we hear from, the better equipped we will be to make informed choices about Sandpoint’s future.

You can access the survey at: http://www.sandpointidaho.gov/LOT/

Thank you for taking the time to participate in this important community conversation.

Jeremy Grimm has served as Sandpoint mayor since 2024, served as Sandpoint city planner from 2007-2015 and is owner/land use planner at Whiskey Rock Planning + Consulting.