County
Ada Commishes Hold Line On Spending
August 20, 2010 
Of course it is a self-serving press release, but the facts from the Ada Commishes sure paint a different picture from the 3% maximum budget increase in Boise City and subsequent levy hike.
PRESS RELEASE FROM ADA COMMISHES:
On Tuesday, August 17th, the Board of Ada County Commissioners officially adopted the County’s Fiscal Year 2010-11 proposed budget.After a series of budget workshops with a public budget hearing and comment period, Commissioners have adopted the FY11 County budget while sticking firmly to their commitment to hold the line on property taxes. Ada County’s total FY11 budget amounts to $174,359,487. With no increase in taxes for County levy funds, this marks the fifth consecutive year of no property tax increase for Ada County.
This means the same amount of property taxes levied in FY10 will be levied in FY11 to support County operations funded within the 3% levy cap, which accounts for $81,688,522 of property taxes. While this budget does show an increase of $3.3 million over last year’s, a surge in Indigent Services medical claims the County is required to pay under state law are a major component of that, with other unfunded state mandates accounting for a portion of the change as well.For the first time, Commissioners have also chosen not to levy an amount allowed under state law for newly constructed properties never before appearing on the property tax roll. However, moving forward, owners of these new properties will pay the same tax levy rate as all other Ada County property owners. This action by the Board, coupled with not levying for the allowed 3% property tax increase, leaves $3,426,571 in forgone taxes for FY11 alone. The cumulative savings to taxpayers from Commissioners not levying for the allowed tax increase for the past five years, amounts to $41,849,174.
“Instead of taking the allowed 3% tax increase each year, we have left tens of millions of dollars in the pockets of taxpayers during these tough times,” said Ada County Commissioner Rick Yzaguirre. “This is the cumulative effect of five years of deciding not to take more money from taxpayers to fill County funding gaps.”
“We have taken a very conservative approach to budgeting, and it is paying off for taxpayers,” said Ada County Commissioner Sharon Ullman. “This is a time when many people and families are struggling to make ends meet. When the public feels pain, government needs to feel it as well.”
“Building a balanced budget allows us to continue to provide essential County services to residents, without shifting more of the burden to taxpayers,” said Ada County Commission Chairman Fred Tilman. “We’ve accomplished this task for five consecutive years with no increase to property taxes.”
Commissioners will approve and set levies on Monday, September 13th.
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Comments & Discussion
Comments are closed for this post.
Aug 20, 2010, 6:14 pm
Yet, because my house is worth less, I have to pay the same amount to the county. I’d be way more impressed if they kept the same tax rate so I would actually get to keep more of my own money. Why is it they don’t have to see their revenue decrease but the taxpayer does?
Aug 20, 2010, 10:09 pm
The levy rate is going to look really bad no matter what they do. Bottom line is they are staying revenue neutral with last year or close to that number.
Tom Dale in Nampa took a 5% increase this year and is calling it a conservative budget! He will never pass up the opportunity to rake in and spend someone else’s money.
Aug 20, 2010, 10:27 pm
I applaud the County for this action. Yes our property taxes have increase but that is a problem at the state level. The county has stayed within it’s budget. I only wish Boise City would take note, instead of spending the maximum allowable amount. I can’t believe the city doesn’t see the same down turn in the economy. The unemployment numbers should be a clear indicator to the city that we can not afford any tax increases. Budgets should follow increases in wages and decreases in unemployment rates, not the other way around. The city should not be increasing their budgets during these economic times. Shame on Dave B., Alan, Maryanne, Dave E.,TJ, Vern, and Elaine for approving such budgets. Budgets on the local and state level have followed the economy with the exception of Boise.
Aug 21, 2010, 6:36 am
emouse…Your revenue may have decreased, but it’s not due to the value of your house. Unless you are selling it has nothing to do with your cash flow.
Aug 21, 2010, 10:08 am
“For the first time, Commissioners have also chosen not to levy an amount allowed under state law for newly constructed properties never before appearing on the property tax roll.”
This is no surprise since Ms. Ullman’s brand new house is either finished or is about to be. It MUST be nice to be in a position where you can give yourself a tax break! Say, don’t they call that abuse of power or something? Prestidigitation at it’s finest. “Presto-change-o I don’t owe.” And that’s not funny, because it’s probably flippin’ true!
Aug 21, 2010, 6:34 pm
Let’s face it property taxes stink! Property is a sitting duck for every government project imaginable. On the other hand sales taxes hits everyone in proportion to what they spend.
The attitude of taxing agencies they could care less if propery owners lose everything because someone will own the property an pay the taxes.
Aug 21, 2010, 9:49 pm
I was a bit confused this year. My homes value dropped from 198K to 167K, or around 15%…My tax seems to have gone up…If the most they can raise my taxes is 3% and my value dropped by over 15%, should I have not seen a drop in tax of 12%?
EDITOR NOTE–Your TAX bill is a combined LEVY of city, county, ACHD, schools, and any other taxing district you may live within. They are allowed to raise their annual BUDGET by a max of 3%–regardless of the value. For the most part local governments will simply increase the levy to take care of their budget needs. (levies have not yet been set anywhere)
Aug 21, 2010, 10:49 pm
Dear Boise Guardian Readers and Dave,
For the record, I just want to say that MY post are MY opinion. I could be wrong.
(Although in this case I rather doubt it.)
Be Well,
Dave in Emmett
Aug 22, 2010, 7:31 pm
dave.. nobody cares about your opinion on ada county because you don’t live here
Aug 23, 2010, 8:54 am
Dave…Just what would have made you happy? You find fault and suggest abuse of power for NOT raising taxes? What would you have said if they (there are 3) did raise taxes. You have a personal grudge. Grind it somewhere else.
Aug 23, 2010, 10:25 am
“EDITOR NOTE–Your TAX bill is a combined LEVY of city, county, ACHD, schools, and any other taxing district you may live within. They are allowed to raise their annual BUDGET by a max of 3%–regardless of the value. For the most part local governments will simply increase the levy to take care of their budget needs. (levies have not yet been set anywhere)”
I still do not understand this…They can raise their BUDGET by 3% regardless of home values. OK, but the increase has to come from tax dollars and that number is based on home values…they are not divorced from each other…
You seem to be saying the taxing entity can increase taxes on individual taxpayers in an unlimited manner regardless of their homes value. If that was the case, why bother with a 3% cap??
It seems the ‘cap’ only works to control government when property values are increasing…when they fall the taxing entities ‘restraint’ translates in actual massive tax increases on property of far lower value.
While my actual tax bill has only risen around 5%…the total tax is now based on a far lower home value making the effect a massive tax increase..
It is like saying…last year you made $100K and your income tax was 20K but this year we want $22K from you even though you only made $50K…a massive tax increase…
EDITOR NOTE–You got it right Jim! When property VALUES were artificially high the tax “as a percentage of value” was very low–that’s how Boise made the list of “business friendly communities, best place to live, etc.” Today we would be way way down on those lists because the percentage has essentially risen by the amount the property value has dropped. Your comparison to income tax is spot on.
Boise and Nampa took the maximum increase allowed. See the ACHD story above.
Aug 23, 2010, 11:39 am
I have never had the privilege of living under a responsible city government. ALL have grabbed as much money as possible, though the exact mechanism is always different. I figure my actual property tax paid on the actual value of my home jumped a good 20% this year, almost entirely due to decreasing home values and undiminished government greed.