Comments on: Local Option Tax Hike Bill Likely In Legislature

By: bikeboy

bikeboy — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:47:12 +0000

Local politicos run mostly unopposed, or with only token opposition–they claim it is due to voter satisfaction. The GUARDIAN suspects people are simply beaten down and apathetic. The rise of the Tea Party on the right and the Occupiers on the left attest to dissatisfaction at all levels of government.

That is VERY accurate, Dave! (IMO.)

For me, a defining moment (actually two moments) was when the Idaho voters approved term limits for our Legislators. They patted us on the head and told us they know better than us, and promptly threw out the voter-mandated term limits.

I’m in favor of the local option… with either the 2/3 supermajority or your proposal of 20% of registered voters. Frankly, I have as much confidence in my fellowcitizens, as I do the Legislature.

(The local option tax is likely the only way we’ll ever see an improved public transit system. I’m not sure I’d vote for it, but I’d like the opportunity to see the debate, and to vote either for or against.)

By: Call your reps

Call your reps — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:44:13 +0000

We need to all call our state representatives and tell them to kill this now. SO please call anyone you know at the state house asap.

By: Murphy

Murphy — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:09:14 +0000

Stop is not enough. Look at California, after Prop 13, the sale tax rate has increased and various local option taxes granted to where some jurisdictions the rate approaches 10%. Has it solved their budget deficits? The answer is no, and their governments still require more money. Government appetite for money equates to a drug user, always need more to satisfy its hunger.

By: Rod in SE Boise

Rod in SE Boise — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:01:33 +0000

Dave,

The US Congress has a low approval rating. The Idaho legislature has a low approval rating in my house, but I don’t know of any statewide polling on them.

I would approve of local option income taxes for infrastructure (roads and bridges, but not convention centers, etc) but not approve of local option sales tax for any purpose. We need to repeal the sales tax altogether and replace that revenue with income taxes.

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:57:37 +0000

It needs to be stopped before they even present it. Just more waste in goverment.
I thought Republicans were against new Taxes?

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:32:20 +0000

Cities and counties are bumping into the tax cap on their spending and now they want a local option tax to keep spending?

They already are picking our pockets with urban renewal laws now they want another “tool” to screw with taxpayers. What a crock this is. They need to learn how to make do with what they have.

Stop all the “if we build it they will come” millstone around the necks of taxpayers projects, the info campaigns for waste and spend projects, and all the administrative bloat in government. Learn to live with what you get from us.

Local option taxes for small resort towns may make sense to support city services made necessary by the tourist and visitors to these towns but not anywhere else. It is simply wrong and is nothing but “catnip” to waste taxpayer dollars to expand this option.

By: Gill

Gill — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:58:46 +0000

“Stop” – I could not agree more. Who thinks that giving thse people an open checkbook will make them either accountable or efficient?

By: STOP THIS NOW!!!

STOP THIS NOW!!! — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:56:38 +0000

STOP LOCAL OPTION TAXES NOW!!

Why? we will see every branch of local governments asking for one tax after another. AND worse yet using our tax dollars will be used to promote and advertise for passage. We will see local government agencies become nothing more than “get the vote out” agancies.

By: chicago sam

chicago sam — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:21:47 +0000

Places like Twin Falls need to come up with something to pay for all the infrastructure they have promised Chobini. The figure of $29 million is stuck in my mind
and Nampa needs a way to make up the $1million annual loss on the Idaho Center. Other ciities have their own white elephants not paid for yet