Taxes
Ada County Housing Values Part II
After posting the factoid regarding how Ada County arrives at appraised value, it was no surprise to get another view from a private appraiser.
“I do not know where the Assessor obtained the apparent low (-4.0%) median value decline for Ada County single family residences. The data from Multiple Listing Service indicates the median [...]
Economics, Real Estate, Tax Lesson
In an effort to predict what’s up for property taxes in the new year, we had a chat about home values with the guy everyone loves to hate, Ada County Assessor Bob McQuade. Tuesday he offered some caution about predicting home values for 2009.
The valuations which we all get in the mail around [...]
CWI Joins Long List of Faltering Ventures
The new College of Western Idaho, set to open January 20, joins a long list of ventures that glibly blame “the soft economy” for failing to meet predictions. It looks like the long awaited opening will fall two-thirds short of predicted enrollment.
We fear the bill of goods sold to voters was overly optimistic and [...]
Banking On Christmas Dinner
We got word from the Idaho Food Bank that Thanksgiving was a a huge success in the turkey acquisition department. Times are tough for many folks, just look at the crowded parking lot at the plasma center on Overland.
The IFB is looking for Christmas help now with both turkey and ham. OR [...]
Politicos Continue Puppet Act For Chamber
In the spirit of Christmas, local politcos continue to act as puppets of the Chamber of Commerce–often at the expense of commoners unable to buy the access to power the Chamber controls.
For a mere $40 you can drink and munch with politicians who don’t even understand they are being used like Willy Nelson at a [...]
Trucks Ride Free On ACHD Roads
After receiving several comments about the ballot language on the Ada County Highway District fee hike for auto registrations, we revisited the issue and learned some disturbing, but not surprising facts.
About 16,500 trucks weighing over 8,000 pounds get a FREE RIDE on county roads. Meanwhile owners of 279, 454 passenger car owners have to [...]
Ada Satellite Office Is No Space Station
Ada Assessor Bob McQuade has found a way to make it easier to get into the pockets of Star residents and he got Mayor Nate to put up half the wages for a clerk and offer free rent in the deal.
McQuade is opening a branch office in Star staffed with two clerks to offer DMV [...]
Boise Officials Skirt Bid Law
Boise coppers will resume using the infamous shooting range in the foothills, but City officials will be competing with Pinocchio in the area of facial features when Councilors approve a new land acquisition Tuesday night.
After declaring land at 25th and Fairview to be “surplus property” and ordering it to be sold to the highest bidder [...]
Rental Cars And Others Diddle System
When the Ada County Highway District pleaded poverty this week and floated the idea of doubling the fees for vehicle registration, it re-ignited a long smoldering issue the GUARDIAN has with rental car agencies and some other commercial vehicle users.
Some 20 years ago when Ada County created the laws for emission testing and the surcharge [...]
