Let’s say, hypothetically “taxes collected in west downtown should remain in west downtown”—- what if west downtown taxes were not enough to cover expenses of west downtown. Then what?

But back to Whittier Elementary, Boise School District can’t even be bothered with the weeds on the sidewalk along Jefferson and Idaho Streets. I asked them about that and their reply— “Not my job.” Yet they can water the street with their sprinklers.

This is exactly why taxes collected in west downtown should remain in west downtown.

BSD, ACHD, BFD and others take our taxes and spend it on nice suburban roads and schools and fire stations. You don’t see any weeds growing all over the sidewalk at East Junior High do you? Ditto that for Highlands, Hidden Springs and Riverside Elementary Schools. And ditto the weeds growing all around the 16th St downtown fire station while the station at Harris Ranch is a virtual Taj Mahal.

EDITOR NOTE–Cynic, perhaps you need your own city councilor.

Use Fees would not work for every facet of the government, but could be looked at for some of the emergency services.

There you go making sense again . . .

Not unlike the “new” CCDC District over by Whitewater Boulevard? The neighborhood schools will see zero of the increased property taxes, with the difference instead going to – you guessed it – the CCDC.

EDITOR NOTE–Even worse, the increment for new construction and appreciation will ALL be diverted AWAY from schools!

In over a decade in my neighborhood, never have the police, fire or ambulance been called to my house, as opposed to the halfway house a few streets over, where the police or ambulance are there every day for a crime or medical call. Let that landlord pay triple the property taxes as me, since they consume public services so disproportionately.

You want to talk tax shifts? What about the tax shift to build suburban infrastructure since the late 1940s? To the detriment of downtowns nationwide.

Are you going to look me straight in the eye and claim 100% of suburban roads, parks, schools were paid for by suburban residents? Not a single dime of North End property tax revenue got co-mingled with funds used for suburban benefits? For 50 years?

Examples: The 2 Parkcenter bridges, The VMP bridge, the Curtis Extension and the Broadway/Chinden Connector were built before the Whitewater Parkway was built. And WWP was proposed back in 1968 at about the same time as those other projects were proposed.

Don’t forget the Broadway Bridge project which has been needed for at least 15 or 20 years. Why did so many suburban projects get funded before Broadway Bridge? Yes, I know it’s a State project and funded differently.

And you’re leaving out the fact that URDs sunset and the new improved revenue stream goes back to the general coffers. New revenue which probably would never have existed. New revenue which will keep your suburban taxes from rising even faster.

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is nothing more than a tax shift which can literally stunt or strangulate the budgets of any other taxing entity for up to 24 years!
School districts got smart and demanded a “post urban” split of the taxing pie and got it. In light of the clear ongoing cost vs loss of budget dollars for law enforcement occasioned by CCDC, why can’t the “powers that be” in law enforcement management demand a similar contribution from TIF dollars?

For way too long now, Urban increment monies have funded the dreams of the few who populate City Hall (pick any city) at the expense of EVERY TAXPAYER in the county where the these municipalities are located.

Take away this highly manipulatable CONSTITUTIONALLY QUESTIONABLE financing plan and let market forces drive development! Cities are historic consumers of money who are ill suited to the management of “for profit” businesses.

Cities have no business being in the business of business!!! Leave business to those whose know business best….which is ANYONE but a City!

Why should downtown residents foot the bill for policing those who are coming from out of downtown?

I say put up immigration checkpoints at all the bridges and at 36th and State like the big border checkpoint separating Tijuana from San Diego. They even have a fast pass called the SENTRI which could aid non-hooligan types to enter Best Boise more quickly.

What are the costs?
Drawing a circle on a map?

But no, in fact the Chief wants to hire additional personnel and to have an actual office space.

Needless and wasteful.
Give the city money and they will find some way to spend it!