Comments on: ACHD To Boise: “Paybacks Are A Bitch”

By: doggone

doggone — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 19:21:51 +0000

Just to clarify, the City Council has no authority over the Mayor or City staff. The Mayor is the executive branch, the Council is the legislative branch. City staff work for the executive branch. We tend to forget about the separation of powers in Boise City because there has not been much disagreement between the branches. However, Council has no authority to “keep the Mayor in line.” And with this group it is unlikely that disagreements will be aired publicly.

EDITOR NOTE–The city council is the SOLE SOURCE of appropriations. The mayor cannot spend much of anything without council approval–even weekly expenditures are approved by council.
You are totally correct there is no disagreement, but when city staff at any level–including the executive branch–conduct themselves in a manner bringing disrepute on the local government, the council has an obligation to speak out. A simple resolution to dissolve an “at will” staff position in the executive branch would do away with a salary very quickly.
We would welcome comments from any HR people regarding “who is the boss” at various levels within the city.

By: Zippo

Zippo — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 16:46:56 +0000

Mount the sensor on the meter

By: Goobs

Goobs — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 04:43:34 +0000

I think erico49 is correct. Overall the spending in Boise compared with elsewhere is pretty balanced when looking at the bigger picture — mainly because of major projects like the Harris Ranch bridge crossing that took a substantial part of all ACHD spending while being built. Unfortunately, residents of Boise never use streets beyond Cole/Glenwood so spending to the west need not take place out of their pockets. Right?

By: Rod in SE Boise

Rod in SE Boise — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 17:05:11 +0000

Greed and paranoia are running rampant in this country. Someone must have put LSD in all the water.

By: erico49

erico49 — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 16:52:28 +0000

“Still no solution for the lion’s share of ACHD revenue coming from east of Cole/Glenwood and being spent west of Cole/Glenwood. For decades.” I am not sure that’s true over “decades.” Seems to me that I read that if you look at the long term, it has balanced out.

By: Mame

Mame — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 16:18:18 +0000

Although pissing wars may be everywhere, I hope that the city council doesn’t allow parking tax hikes.

EDITOR NOTE–How do you feel about the bond $34 million bond tax hike?

By: Brain Lee

Brain Lee — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 15:15:05 +0000

Here’s an idea……….run that little ____ of a mayor we have out of town on a rail. He is a loud mouth, egotistical, self absorbed, ____ ____. He’s the little ____ that everybody kicks sand on, at the beach. Who needs him?

EDITOR NOTE–Please refrain from name calling so we don’t have to delete.

By: boisecynic

boisecynic — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 14:36:14 +0000

The problem is more one of government not keeping up with technology. Guardian pointed it out in the last paragraph.

Still no solution for the lion’s share of ACHD revenue coming from east of Cole/Glenwood and being spent west of Cole/Glenwood. For decades.

By: Frankenstein Government

Frankenstein Government — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 04:47:17 +0000

Having been a veteran of such government pissing matches- I can assure you this goes on everywhere. Ada County has no monopoly on turf wars.

Fun to watch.