Comments on: Idaho Supremes Put Damper On Storm Drain “Fee,”Affirm GUARDIAN Assertion

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:23:53 +0000

The key wording here is that the fee is used to add onto existing stormwater systems and once the two connect this becomes an tax.

Meanwhile, I think Mayor Dale in Nampa is in a huddle with the Nampa City Attorney Terry White over this decision.

By: Interested nampan

Interested nampan — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:03:43 +0000

This needs to be remembered when in 2 years Tom Dale will be up for re-election.

By: Clancy

Clancy — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:01:07 +0000

A point of clarification- it looks like this was actually involving the city of Lewiston and its’ “taxing” of other government agencies. The Nampa fee may fall under this ruling, but it was not specifically mentioned in the ruling. .

Here the background ruling Nampa looked at before implementing their fee. http://www.cityofnampa.us/stormwater/media/281/mtg%204%20handouts.pdf

EDITOR NOTE–Clancy, you are correct as usual. We have added a line of clarification.

By: Ken

Ken — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:44:21 +0000

Even worse, they billed this fee under a new account number instead of tacking it on to our existing municipal utility bill. I wondered how much of my $6 fee was wasted in the billing/accounting/collection process. It was the dumbest thing I think the city has ever done.