Comments on: Boise Schools, CCDC Collusion Over Tax

By: Forced Air

Forced Air — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 00:47:02 +0000

Impunity is the lifeblood that keeps these vampires alive. They know that they can get away with this crap because of the ideological mindwarp that exists in the District 19 type voter base. As long as they keep appearing “progressive” and offer shiny new things like legacy libraries and scooters and “orange man bad!” phrases, they stay in power.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 16:23:53 +0000

Wasn’t Boise Fireperson Dennis Droan given a seat on the Boise School District last fall? Wasn’t Dennis behind the PROTECT BOISE $17 million bond election of 2014 selling the public on no TAX INCREASE that has FAILED miserably?
Taxation without representation?
We’re talking about PUBLIC SERVANTS! THEY work for US.

By: Easterner

Easterner — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 17:17:20 +0000

Collusion? This must be fake news!
The alternative facts demand it is not collusion. This media outlet shall be shut-down by the mayor!

On serious note, the Legislature needs to amend URD law to a vote of the people for EACH and EVERY new district. For CCDC to randomly pick new districts from one year to another is an abuse of their allowance.

It does make sense for Boise Schools: “Hey, if you spend your money building sidewalks to our 1 school in the URD, build a playground adjacent to it, add a JFK center and/or Boys/Girls Club, and bus stops around the area, etc…Then we’re okay with it” So 1 school becomes much nicer than the other schools not in the district- exactly like downtown vs South Boise.
Boise School could potential get MORE money of such a deal-for that one school (or two).
None the less- it stinks!

By: rickr

rickr — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 17:12:50 +0000

I have not looked at the specifics of the deals described in this article but there seems to be a bit of misunderstanding about URDs and tax increment financing. The tax base is set at the time of the formation of the district and entities, like school districts, continue to get taxes on that amount. The tax that comes in from any increase in the base goes to the URD. In many cases, there would be no increase in the base without the efforts of the URD. Yes, schools and other entities lose the tax money from the increased tax base but only for the period of time that the URD is in effect. Over the long term, those entities get the increased taxes. The question might be would those increases in the base have happened without the efforts of the URD.

By: Sad ethics in the local government

Sad ethics in the local government — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 16:16:20 +0000

I’ll be votin no on any school and community college levy. If I get to vote on UR districts, I’ll be votin no.

By: Idaholc

Idaholc — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 15:54:57 +0000

Maybe St. Luke’s will rebate some of the $500M+ they deprive the Boise school district of annually because of their property tax exemption. But strangely, no school districts seem willing to whimper about this or the lack of impact fees for schools.

In the ‘90’s the Idaho Assn of School Districts made several legislative attempts to permit impact fees for schools but were thwarted by Realty and Builders Assns. The need is so much greater in 2019, but not a whimper from the districts. They seem to be content to try to sell us override levies!

By: Sad ethics in the local government

Sad ethics in the local government — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 06:25:24 +0000

Why can’t the governments (city, ccdc) just look honestly at the impacts of taking taxable property off the tax rolls. There are plenty of studies that clearly demonstrate that this tax shift must go on to the citizens. (As the Boise folk now admit as Pete points out.) I wish the city would stick to the management of municipal needs as a whole, for the whole city, instead of thinking they are real estate magnets. Why hasn’t anybody questioned the fact that the Boise PDS director set up the districts before he resigned – now to be working for developers in same.

By: chicago sam

chicago sam — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 04:34:42 +0000

Dave
Legal or not the budgeted amount for Nampa UR payments to Vallivue School District in fiscal year 2019 is $496,166. They refer to it as a rebate in the financial statements.

No other taxing District gets a rebate including the City of Nampa.

EDITOR NOTE–A conference with Freedom Foundation attorney might be worthwhile. FYI, schools originally were exempt from urban renewal, but that changed under Gov. Risch.

By: GO FOR IT

GO FOR IT — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 22:45:51 +0000

Every other taxing agency should go get the same agreement and drain the CCDC!!!

By: Pete

Pete — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 22:38:02 +0000

This entire situation PROVES that the school district AND the Mayor and the CCDC KNOW that urban renewal districts TAKE money from where it is needed.

It also PROVES that because the money is diverted that taxes are raised (by the school district for one) to make up the difference.

IDAHO LEGISLATORS>>>>>
PLEASE HOLD HEARINGS AND REPEAL ALL URBAN RENEWAL LEGISLATION ASAP TO STOP THIS!!!