http://www.ccdcboise.com/InformationForDevelopers/documents/AR09.pdf

The 3 current URDs in Boise are slated to sunset. I can’t remember the exact figures. I agree with external audits and possibly some kind of direct election. But direct election makes no sense. If we go that route then we should just balkanize Boise. That is, each neighborhood should just secede when their needs aren’t met.

Downtown Boise is unique in this valley and therefore has different needs that need different solutions.

Indeed, La Jolla Ca has often threatened to secede from San Diego and La Jolla has the money and power to do it.

What bonds have been issued by either of the three Boise URDs?

Next I would call for Routine external audits for these authority/districts. Here is an interesting article about defaults on bonds by local agencies across the country and how it affects taxpayers. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/26/business/surprised-taxpayers-are-paying-for-bonds-they-did-not-vote-on.html?pagewanted=all

EDITOR NOTE–Clancy, once again we thank you for the research. We need to watch out for a baseball park campaign which we fear is coming soon.

The issue is where the tax money collected gets spent. Yes the suburbs have tax payers who contributed to all the suburban infrastructure. But you seem to be incapable of admitting that those in greater downtown, north end, east end, west end have also been paying taxes and at higher rates per square foot and have gotten very little in return since the 50s or 60s.

Are you disagreeing? Please point out the major public investment projects in the greater downtown area over the last 30 years. Maintenance doesn’t count.

And cut the false equivalency bunk. I am not against private property rights. However, as I’ve pointed out, cities have very little power to rid themselves of derelict properties which add little to the tax coffers.

Would your rather Boise City take Goodman Oil by eminent domain? Frankly I think they should. In the 70s they took quite a few properties near there to use as the greenbelt. Those cases, iirc, went to court and the city won. You think the Goodmans are angels? HAH, there is plenty of info to the contrary from various sources.

So choose your poison; 1) status quo ghetto, 2) URD organized and overseen redevelopment, 3) or eminent domain ala Kelo Decision.

Yes, private property rights are very important but so is the greater good.

And you still haven’t shown on paper how much taxes will go down if URDs are disbanded.

Tired old buildings are not safe and expensive to keep up, just ask the fire/structural code inspectors what he/she thinks of these old relics. I think you used the words cost effective.

And talk to me some more about why the burbs grew. Don’t forget the near tripling of our national population since WWII.

I’m going to go shopping now at a one-stop super-store. I own their stock and they are making a killing for me too. A real rainmaker for the local area with lots of former Micron workers getting by on less. They have super cool a/c and I can park near the door for free too. Bet I can leave the widows down without anyone even looking twice. Unlikely to be dodging bikes/pedestrians/drunks crossing against the light, so it’s a real nice experience overall.

Apparently you believe that private property rights should never hold primacy over what you as a government goon want to do with them. Why shouldn’t Goodman Oil and Bob Rice hold onto the property until they can get what they want for them? “Because they are selfish” sayeth you. Hey, they own it!

And still beating that local option tax drum eh? Let me guess, the first thing we should vote on is money for a trolley downtown that goes nowhere.

This guy sums it it well:

http://www.cdapress.com/columns/my_turn/article_068ce871-6d0a-5e1a-a441-3a71b367bc29.html

You don’t know me. I question authority more than anyone. In fact, the “authority” around these parts is the ultra conservative tax-o-phobes in the State Legislature. They can’t even give Boise the right to run local option tax elections. What’s up with that? Ketchum and Coeur d’Alene have it.

But forget that. You still haven’t crunched any numbers and shown how much our taxes, yes I am outside a URD, how much our property taxes will go down if URDs in Boise are eliminated. Without crunching the numbers and proving it on paper you have no argument whatsoever. You’ve got nothing but bluster. There’s a reason your teachers in high school math class always yelled “show your work.” Or maybe you missed that part.

And you still haven’t answered why Goodman Oil and Bob Rice Ford properties are assessed so low. We are subsidizing them for the owner’s selfish land banking efforts. And guess what, they are holding on until the River Park, Esther Simplot Park and the 30th St Extension are built and then they’re going to sell and make a fortune off the public investment in the neighborhood. Mark my words on this. Talk about riding on the backs of taxpayers.

Note: Bob Rice Ford property is for sale for $10 million which is ridiculously overpriced. Ada County has it assessed at only $3 million.

-“Parking? There is plenty of parking downtown if you just use your brain.” BUT ITS NOT FREE LIKE OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN, AND THE RULES ARE STUPID, AND I CAN’T PARK AT THE BUSINESS.

-“Earthquake retrofits do not meet cost/benefit analysis.” NEITHER DOES ANY OTHER KIND OF FIX-UP ON A JUNKY OLD FALLING-DOWN BUILDING, THEY WERE DANGEROUS WHEN BUILT AND STILL ARE. THESE BUILDING ARE NOT COST EFFECTIVE RESULTING IN THE DIVERSION OF TAXES (TO ALLOW AFFORDABLE RENTS) WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

-“The main reason downtowns were abandoned all across the USA is tax subsidized suburban development land.” NO, IT WAS MOSTLY WHITE-FLIGHT AND THE TAX BASE MOVED WITH THEM, STILL IS THE REASON EVERYWHERE BUT HERE (FOR OBVIOUS REASONS). EVEN WHITE LIBERALS MOVED AWAY FROM HAVING THEIR KIDS BUSSED INTO THE HOOD.

-NAME ME A BIG CITY DOWNTOWN THAT YOU AND THE WIFE FEEL SAFE WALKING THROUGH AFTER DARK.

(sorry about the block letters… had to differentiate the quotes/answers)