Comments on: Meridian and Boise School Levies Pass

By: dog

dog — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:14:47 +0000

Mr. JJ, you forgot to mention how government also borrows trillions to fund our wars and maintain military bases all over the world so you can be free to eeke out a living.
The Republicans in Idaho are too limp to get rid of the personal property tax. The reason we keep getting the same shaft for small business is the legistards you keep electing really don’t care about you.
Haven’t you figured it out that our problems all stem from abortion, access to contraceptives, wolves and gays?

By: James

James — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:35:10 +0000

This levy is unjust for those that do NOT have children and already support the school system. The kids will NOT beneifit from the extra money. The school officials WILL. Wake up people!

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:44:44 +0000

I’m just amazed! Every one wants lower taxes. Then they vote in a raise. Helping the kids? What a scam!

By: davis

davis — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 04:56:55 +0000

Pittman: ‘Oh, and I agree Branden Durst. It should have never come to a levy but that’s what you get with Otter and co.’
Come on, it’s not just Otter & Co!! It’s the ignoramuses who keep on smugly returning to the Leg. the very idiots that refuse to fund education in the first place, who elect people like Labrador and the rest of the brilliants of this state.

By: Pittman

Pittman — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:33:32 +0000

Bagholder, I have no doubt that your profit margins were reduced, but you can’t equate percentages of unequal amounts directly to dollar ratios. A 400 percent increase in property tax vs a 40 percent increase in rental rates does not equal a 10 to 1 dollar ratio (unless your rents and property amounts were the same dollar value, which they obviously weren’t).

Oh, and I agree Branden Durst. It should have never come to a levy but that’s what you get with Otter and co.

By: boiseguardian

boiseguardian — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:23:32 +0000

This is another tax increase that will never go away. You cannot fund salaries and other noncapital projects with temporary bond issues.
Get ready for another (or multiple) bond issues over the next 3-5 years.

By: nan emouse

nan emouse — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:53:49 +0000

Hey JJ, how can you be so cruel in your comments.

This was for the chhhhillllldrrren. They are our future you know.

By: JJ

JJ — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 23:38:47 +0000

Tax cuts to wealthy corporations the problem? You have got to be kidding me! I own a home in Boise roughly worth the same as a property for which I have a business leasing. The property taxes on my business are more than 3 times that of my home. In addition to my property tax, I pay another property tax for all the equipment and value of the interior improvements I made to the restaurant down to the pots and pans, additionally I pay an inventory tax on the average daily inventory of the food stuffs I stock. My phone, gas, water, sewer, telephone all cost more for being a business customer versus residential, due in large to government regulation of these utilities and government rate setting. Those taxes all combined were far greater than the net income I received as the at-risk owner. In short, add income tax, property tax, and all other taxes on my business, and more than 70% of would-be net income goes to government. People complain about corporate greed on wall street, at least businesses are open about their profit motive, government is even more greedy, has no competition to keep them in check and hides their greed in the shadows of needy programs. We have a government system that measures its success by revenue accumulation for new laws, and government programs. We should be measuring the effectiveness of government by the removal of laws, facilitation of liberties, and enrichment of the citizenry.

By: Former Bagholder

Former Bagholder — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:21:48 +0000

I’m a former commercial property owner in Boise. In the twenty years I owned commercial property in Boise my property taxes went up roughly 400%. Rents I was able to charge during the same period went up roughly 40-50%. That is a tax increase of $10 for every $1 rent increase. Local government has been funded in the last 20 years via confiscation of private property.

Going forward property values will fall in response to tax increases. When valuing real estate for a potential purchase, a buyer will become more aware of the unsustainable nature of tax increases and will be forced to discount into the future further agressive confiscation by greedy self serving government agencies.

Enjoy the gravy train while it lasts.

By: Branden Durst

Branden Durst — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:10:53 +0000

Paul – I have wondered the exact same thing.