Comments on: Bench Taxpayers Fund Boise’s Valley Projects

By: cyclops

cyclops — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:31:03 +0000

Except for the whitewater park, which is a COMPLETE waste of money, I agree with you Cynic. The 30th. street extension and the park should both be pursued vigorously. Just not with the CCDC, as they are one of the biggest wasters of taxpayer money ever to walk the planet!

By: boisecynic

boisecynic — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:25:25 +0000

TJ wrote: “Doesn’t seem like I am getting the benefit of my investment.”

Exactly TJ. That’s exactly why an urban renewal district is needed. For decades tax revenue has been diverted to the suburbs. One quick example, ACHD. Look at all the road work done in West Boise and SE Boise. Sure, people out there pay taxes too, but so do those of us in the downtown area and we’ve gotten almost $0 in public investment for a very long time.

TJ, get out there and support the 30th Street Extension, the white water park and Esther Simplot Park. The 30th Extension was proposed over 40 years ago. Every other project that old has been built and they serve the suburbs.

You should be proud your west downtown property pays more property tax than the one in Eagle. That simply means it’s worth more. Study your tax bill. It’s the land, not the house that makes it so expensive. Downtown land is worth $400,000 or more an acre simply because of its proximity to downtown.

To the rest of you tax-o-phobes. I’m still waiting for an accounting of what the URDs cost us. My guess is it’s no more than a few 10s of dollars a year. Are you all really that cheap? My opinion is that it’s worth it to prevent ghetto-fication.

By: TJ

TJ — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:53:16 +0000

Now that I know my tax dollars will go to CCDC I feel a little bit sick. I pay more taxes on a little 50 x 110 foot lot with a hundred year old house on it than I pay on a 1/3 acre parcel in Eagle with a 20 year old house. There is something wrong with this picture. I have paid more taxes on my little rental in the last few years than the property cost in the 1970’s when I bought it. Doesn’t seem like I am getting the benefit of my investment.

By: 4523A

4523A — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:38:44 +0000

And then there is the plan by Boise State to take property near the airport, valued at over $ 2 million for tax purposes, off the tax rolls so it can build a park and ride lot on the site.

Where does all this stop?

By: Zippo

Zippo — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:52:23 +0000

Rod, where have all the “O” bumperstickers gone? But I must also say Bushonomics = Stupidonomics.

The motive man, help me find the motive. Why play with other peoples money?

By: cyclops

cyclops — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 02:37:44 +0000

Paul, I can’t disagree with you. Therefore the first stop we have to make is in contacting our legislators and explaining to each of them that any support they give the UR issues will result in vigorious support for their next opponent! Then we can go to city council and let them know the ponyride is over!
Enough is way too enough!

By: Reed

Reed — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 02:33:07 +0000

So now we know why the city jacks up the levi rates so they can have the same amount of income!!!!!!!!!!

They take all this off the rolls and then they JACK UP THE RATES!!

By: Rod in SE Boise

Rod in SE Boise — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:50:46 +0000

Zippo sees some redistribution of wealth going on here. If there is, it is a redistribution of wealth from average, middle class Boiseans (those who work for a living) to wealthy Boiseans (who don’t). That’s more like Bushonomics.

By: Clancy

Clancy — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:33:44 +0000

My business is in the River District but does not see one penny of improvements or ever seen a mailing about CCDC’s ongoings in this area. I guess notification to property owners are not a mandate for these entities.

And for Paul while we are at it, how about changing the way property taxes are figured. I think the assessor should figure out assesments and total taxes to be collected first. Then the local agencies could figure out there budgets and live with their means.

By: Zippo

Zippo — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:39:41 +0000

Obamanomics: To take from those who work and give to those who do not. Or in this case Bieternomics. Bieternomics is to take from that which supports profitable businesses and give to those businesses which should have closed the doors. Bieternomics is not to be confused with Betternomics. Betternomics is to have government stay home and let the people and businesses be free to thrive.

What would be nice to know is the motive for this kind of redistribution of wealth.