City Government
Cities Likely To Raise Tax Levy Rate
Faced with a projected $3.6 billion decline in assessed property values in Ada County, local governments will be hard pressed to balance budgets without raising the tax rates they levy. The median decline in property values will come to about 10%–bad news if you want to sell a house and possibly a little good news […]
Team Dave Sees The Light–FINALLY!
After years of lame excuses and spending thousands of taxpayer dollars in Sun Valley to discuss local problems, Team Dave has finally written the Chamber of Commerce suggesting that just MAYBE it would be a good idea to hold the annual indoctrination of local “leaders” in Treasure Valley. KTVB CHannel 7 had a GOOD STORY […]
COMPASS Action Politically Linked To Otter
THE GUARDIAN HAS OBTAINED THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC DOCUMENTS WHICH DEPICT A SAD BIT OF PARTISAN POLITICKING ON THE PART OF AN AGENCY SUPPOSEDLY DEVOTED TO PLANNING. If you are the veto-wielding governor of Idaho, you take friends wherever you can find them. Such was the case Wednesday when the Community Planning Association of southwest Idaho […]
Farmers Market Unlikely Despite Citizen Pleas
Even with the qualifier of being a “Northender,” we doubt the people who want fresh veggies during the growing season under the politically correct greenie label of “sustainable,” will be able to overcome the powerful CCDC urban renewal agency (Capital City Development Corp.) or the Downtown Business Association. Those outfits control the popular Saturday market. […]
Mayor Hotline April 11 to 17
CALLER CAMPAIGN FOR WEDNESDAY MARKET, LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS COST PARKING TICKETS 4/17/09 Cody Human 412-9695 Mid-week Market Support: I live in the North End of Boise. I wanted to leave a message for the Mayor to let him know that I am supporting a mid-week Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays. It would be great if it were […]
New Recycle Program Could Be Costly
We need to raise the yellow caution flag on Boise’s new trash program that includes “no-sort recycling.” Austin, Texas, often held up as a “Big Brother” for things Boise politicos favor, adopted the no sort recycle scheme last fall and suddenly finds itself nearly $1 million in the hole due to transportation costs brought about […]
Mayor Hotline April 4 to 10
TORCH 2, CITY MOVING TRUCK? AIR, WATER 4/7/09 Gail Arnold 576 Victoria Boise, ID Torch 2: I’m calling in regard to the seemingly limitless remodel that the Torch 2 has at 610 Vista. I attended the Boise City Planning & Zoning hearing pertaining to his building permit request, which was denied in the form submitted […]
Boise Considers “Trade War” Ordinance
While perhaps well intended, Boise City Councilors are set to consider an ordinance that very possibly is contrary to State bidding laws and the United States Constitution. Calling it a “local preference ordinance,” Boise Councilors will hold a first reading of an ordinance revision that would deny EQUAL PROTECTION under the city bid law to […]
Government Workers Should Share Wage Cuts
A GUARDIAN GUEST OPINION By STEVE EDGAR Lots of recent talk from politicos about public employee compensation. I appreciate their concern and efforts to preserve this group’s compensation but a historical context is worthy of examination. In recent years elected leaders have worked to ensure “compensation parity” with the private sector for public servants. This […]
Vern Celebrates 50 years In Public Service
Mention the name “Vern” to anyone who has lived in Boise more than a few years and it conjures up the image of a squinty eyed bald guy who carries a gruff demeanor that can explode into raucous laughter without notice. City Councilor Vern Bisterfeldt began his Boise City career 50 years ago on May […]
Risky Business In Local Government
Wild projections of economic boom, be they for convention centers, a trolly, retailers in a court house, airport users, condo buyers, or golfers have a tendency to fall short. The weekend Wall Street Journal has a great example in story about funding woes for a golf course in CARLSBAD, CA. Substitute “GOLF” for parking, airport, […]
Pocatello Election Provides Valuable Lesson
A GUARDIAN reader in Pocatello provided a good illustration of why it’s important for citizens to preserve their right to vote on long term debt after reading the post on a proposed constitutional amendment. It is not a stretch to be concerned that local officials wishing to spend city tax money on the state-owned Holt […]
Mayor Hotline March 28 to April 3
DOGS DOMINATE THIS LENGTHY 9 PAGE INSTALLMENT. ON LEASH, OFF LEASH, COPPER SHOOTING DOG AND MORE. WORTH A READ 3/30/09 Jay Yost Dog Shooting: I’m calling in response to the officer who shot the dog. That is the exact type of officer that I’m talking about that needs to be removed from the force. His […]
Proposed Amendment To Limit Voting Rights
In a shameful act of disdain for the constitutional rights of citizens, The Idaho legislature is trying to strip voters of authority currently guaranteed by the Idaho Constitution. At issue is Article VIII, sec 3 of the the constitution which gives citizens authority to approve long term debt by any “subdivision of state government”–generally cities, […]
GUARDIAN Offers Yet Another Transit Plan
We don’t get paid for our services, but the GUARDIAN is able to provide thinking people of Treasure Valley with transportation alternatives much more logical than those being promoted by Team Dave and the CCDC. For the cost of the proposed downtown “Trolley Folly” we think a Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT)– similar to previous […]
More Poop On The Foothills Dog Rules
Guest Opinion By Marianne Konvalinka The Foothills Conservation Advisory Committee passed a motion at their public meeting in December that would have cut off-leash access in the Lower Reserves by half or more but was still acceptable to the majority of responsible dog owners. We fully expected this to be the recommendation going to council, […]
BOI Proud Of 5th Level Bond Rating
We got a strange press release from Boise City touting the bond rating of the airport of all things. Team Dave was proud of an A+ bond rating from Fitch Rating. That rating is rather moderate, considering there are four higher ratings with AAA the highest. CHART Not unlike President Bush’s famous “You’re doing a […]
More Bad News For Urban Renewal
Urban renewal districts statewide are coming under fire from many quarters as they work to subvert the will of the citizens and go around the election process mandated in the Idaho Constitution when it comes to long term debt. In Coeur d’Alene a group is pushing for legislation to enforce a 10% limitation on the […]
Mayor Hotline March 16 to 20
BILL OR NO BILL?, MARCH MADNESS WITH WATER, FREE MERCEDES PARKING, TROLLEY OR STRUCTURE? BED BUGS. Thomas Thacker Old Houses: My concern is on north Maple Grove just north of Ustick Rd there are two old houses on the east side of the road that the fire dept has used for training and cut the roof up and […]
Boise Coppers Get New Headquarters
After 25 years of being “roomers” at the Ada Sheriff’s law enforcement building on Barrister, Boise coppers have a new home on Sailfish off Emerald west of Maple Grove. The entire department is in the process of moving during the next 10 days. Officially known as “City HAll West,” the coppers will have about 80,000 […]
Recent Comments