MEET BJ
I am a lifelong resident of Latah County and a proud graduate of Deary High School and the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.
I am married to Cliff Swanson, a Troy native and retired teacher. We have one daughter, Ara Swanson-Merkens, a project manager with CDM Smith headquartered in Boston, a son-in-law, Todd Merkens, a traffic engineer and economist with WeaveGrid in San Francisco, and two wonderful grandchildren.
I currently serve as your Latah County Treasurer. Since taking office, I have focused on modernizing operations, improving transparency, and protecting taxpayers. I led the upgrade of the Treasurer’s Office tax system from an outdated DOS-based platform to a modern Windows system that provides online access to property information and allows taxpayers to make payments online. Customer service is a top priority, and I am committed to making county government accessible, accurate, and responsive.
Fiscal stewardship has been central to my work. By carefully managing investments and monitoring the budget, annual investment income has grown from approximately $19,000 when I took office to an average of $400,000 today. Increased investment revenue helps reduce pressure on property taxes and directly benefits Latah County residents. I regularly assist the County Commissioners, Assessor, and Clerk with financial analysis, tax exemptions, real estate matters, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
I actively follow legislative activity and advocate for fair and equitable property tax policy. Property tax relief should be just that—relief—not a tax shift that places a greater burden on low- and middle-income residents while providing disproportionate benefits to large corporations or luxury property owners.
Latah County does need a new jail. Latah County Sheriff and Moscow Police transporting detainees to Nez Perce County is costly and unsafe. However, proposing a bond that requires a two-thirds majority and would increase the average homeowner’s taxes by approximately $280 per year is not realistic and would compete directly with school bonds. I support allowing counties the option to adopt a Local Option Tax, which would provide a more practical way to fund a new jail while reducing reliance on property taxes.
Before serving as Treasurer, I spent over 30 years as a commercial bank vice president. My experience includes management, accounting, financial analysis, investments, bond financing, customer service, and regulatory compliance. I have extensive experience in real estate, bankruptcy, estates, collections, and complex calculations, including urban renewal taxing districts. I have successfully managed budgets and investments ranging from $1,000 to $50 million. I bring strong expertise in computer systems, data management, and artificial intelligence, and I am also a licensed commercial drone pilot.
I have volunteered with and served on numerous community and government organizations and have received multiple awards for management and economic development.
I bring knowledge, experience, and creativity to the Treasurer’s Office, with a focus on saving money, improving services, and making the best possible use of taxpayer funds. I will continue to be your financial voice in Latah County government.
I respectfully ask for your support and look forward to earning your vote for re-election as Latah County Treasurer.