County
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 […]
GUARDIANS Discover $300,000 Missing Funds
GUARDIAN TEAM REPORT By Paul Alldredge, Caldwell GUARDIAN and David R. Frazier, Boise GUARDIAN While the legislature and governor are locked in a funding battle over transportation, the GUARDIANS have learned of $300,000 that seems to have slipped through the cyber cracks of the state computer– thanks to a seven year long Canyon County alleged […]
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 […]
Would Be Track Operator, Mr. Lucky Isn’t
No trifecta, no quinella, and no daylight for Dave “Mr. Lucky” Parrie until he ponied up $10,000 to get out of jail. He bet on a long shot and lost. Seems the guy who wanted to operate the Les Bois Park race track had only bad luck Thursday and lost his bet–along with a bid […]
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 […]
Nothing Is Better Than A Bad Something
Ada County Commishes said Tuesday “all bets are off” when it comes to selecting an operator of the Les Bois Park horse race track. Stung by past operators at the facility, they appear to have done some homework this time and didn’t like the results. Commishes said both proposals were bad bets for the use […]
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 […]
Decision Due To Dissolve Developer Deadlines
By TONY JONES Critics of the county’s policies dealing with planned communities, and the manner in which the Commish’s handle all things public, will feel vindicated learning the county is quietly preparing another gift for the development community. Under current county code, when a planned community is approved, the developer has two years to get […]
CCDC Blinks On Ada Parking Policy
It looks like Boise’s urban renewal agency, the Capital City Development Corp., is backing down on its proposed draconian parking policy at the Ada County Courthouse. It would have eliminated a 10 minute free drop and a reduced rate for jurors and coppers. Previously the Commishes ponied up $18,000 a month to give citizens first […]
Lap 2 Meals On Wheels
Looks like the meals on wheels deal is more complex than we thought. Lots of government agencies involved, contracts, liabilities, certifications. We hear of commercial providers in the potential running to take over from Central District Health to serve up meals to needy senior citizens. Commish Ullman discusses the potential of inmates using the jail […]
Two Enter Race For Les Bois Park
Only two potential operators offered proposals to the Ada Commishes for a 2009 racing season lease on the Les Bois Park horse track and facilities. Bids were opened Tuesday and now the operators, their staff and track records will be vetted before Commishes decide who gets a shot at running the races. We asked for […]
Seal The Deals For Hot Meals On Wheels
When Central District Health Department officials announced last week they were getting out of the “meals on wheels” program to provide a hot meal a day to needy folks, we didn’t respond because it was a sure bet good Boise people would step up. We won the bet when Life’s Kitchen, a do gooder outift […]
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, […]
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, […]
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 […]
CCDC, Ada Commishes Battle Over Parking
The battle over who pays for parking and how much they pay at the Ada Courthouse has revved up as the Capital City Development Corp. appears to be changing gears for parking at the Courthouse garage and the Ada Commishes are not about to take it sitting in neutral. In a nutshell, the CCDC has raised the […]
Growthophobes Fear Well Water Loss
Thirsty land speculators have caused GROWTHOPHOBES in NW Ada County to organize and protest water rights applications due to be heard later this month. Owners of wells near Eagle are concerned about developers getting water rights and causing existing wells to dry up or lower the water table. Of prime concern to those with wells […]
Guardian Sucks Up To Governments
We need to offer up some kudos to the local government types. First, the Ada Commishes will hold their first Town Hall meeting of the year on Wednesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. in the Meridian City Hall. Aside from a short presentation to begin the meeting ( there is no set agenda) they are intentionally keeping […]
GUARDIAN Primer On Local Governments
A recent reader comment requested that we post some sort of organizational chart explaining local government. We will give it a go, but space will limit detailed explanations. We will be glad to made additions based on reader comments from those in the know. Click on MORE for the complete summary.
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