The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee voted Saturday to send approximately $64,000 — half of its total funds — to the Idaho Republican Party, according to the committee.

The transfer came days after precinct elections removed longtime Chairman Brent Regan from his position. Regan had led the county committee for years and currently serves as chairman of the Idaho Freedom Foundation board of directors.

The committee stated the money would be used to oppose a ballot initiative seeking to restore abortion access in Idaho.

The Coeur d’Alene Press first reported the transfer.

In addition to moving the funds, the committee voted to close some of its social media accounts. A leadership vote for the reorganized committee is scheduled for Thursday evening in Coeur d’Alene.

A similar situation occurred in Bonneville County two years ago, when that county’s Republican committee transferred nearly all of its funds to the state party following a leadership change.

Jaclyn Kettler, a political science professor at Boise State University, said outgoing party leaders sometimes take steps to limit resources available to incoming leadership. She noted that state party organizations can sometimes use funds more efficiently through bulk purchasing and coordinated campaign efforts, though she questioned whether efficiency was the primary motivation in this case.

County Republican committees handle grassroots fundraising and candidate recruitment within their regions.