Economy
Boise-Ada Taxpayers Suffer In State Land Deal
The Idaho Department of Lands sent us a well presented defense of their financials regarding the purchase of Affordable Self Storage in Boise–a state owned retail business. What it means is that Boise-Ada taxpayers get screwed out of tax revenues, but the schools get a boost. The IDL sent the details–and we agree with the […]
State-Owned Private Business Venture Draws Split Decision From GUARDIAN Readers
Businesses–especially the lucrative self storage sector–can expect to see more State-owned competitors in the future. Land Dept. Deputy Director Cathy Opp talked with the GUARDIAN Wednesday following our post about the Department purchasing and operating a retail self storage facility at 450 S. Maple Grove in Boise. She said the goal of the endowment fund […]
State Owns Tax-Exempt Commercial Storage, Competes With Private Business
Politicos are fond of attempting to “run government like a business” in these hard economic times, but how about government flat out running a business? The State of Idaho recently created a front company which discreetly operates a tax-exempt commercial public self-storage facility hiding behind the assumed name of “Affordable Storage” at 450 South Maple […]
Caution Advised On ANY Stadium Plans
Two GUARDIAN readers have sent us a NY TIMES LINK to a national story about stadium construction. It’s worth a read in light of the plans (apparently dormant) for a new HAWKS STADIUM in either Boise or Meridian and a major expansion of Boise State’s Football palace. It all boils down to money and no […]
Ada Commishes Hold Line On Spending
Of course it is a self-serving press release, but the facts from the Ada Commishes sure paint a different picture from the 3% maximum budget increase in Boise City and subsequent levy hike. PRESS RELEASE FROM ADA COMMISHES: On Tuesday, August 17th, the Board of Ada County Commissioners officially adopted the County’s Fiscal Year 2010-11 […]
Ada Commishes Send Boise “Past Due” Message
Looks like the GUARDIAN isn’t the only one with whom Boise officials can’t get along. The STATESMAN ran an enlightening piece Saturday by reporter Cynthia Sewell about the ongoing rift between Boise City and Ada County over the issue of who pays to provide magistrate court facilities. Ada Commishes are backing out of various financial […]
CCDC Seeks Expansion Despite Statewide Opposition
Boise’s Urban Renewal Agency–CCDC– seeks to double the acres where property taxes are diverted away from City, County, ACHD, and Schools with a new District in the 30th Street area. They will have to hustle to get ahead of growing opposition. The Daily Paper has a DETAILED REPORT. Urban Renewal agencies throughout the state have […]
Ada County Electric Trash Deal Is Shocking
Ada Commishes may be moving a bit hasty with plans for an incinerator at the Hidden Hollow landfill in an effort to get some of the “stimulus funds” from the Feds. On the face of it, a plan to allow an Eagle firm to build an incinerator and pay $1 a year for rent sounded […]
Open Forum Weekend
We don’t have much to offer, so it is YOUR turn to come up with some comments and topics. Here are some seeds. –Summer school principal brings her infant to school. At least one teacher complained to the GUARDIAN for fear of recrimination. Claims it interferes with job. Distric rep says no violation of policy […]
Only “Small People” Suffer At Idaho Tax Agency
Seems someone in Idaho State government has a new concept when it comes to “exemptions.” This memo was circulated at the Idaho Tax commission explaining why the tax commishes don’t share the furlough pain with the rest of the staff: Good afternoon everyone. This is a difficult and important message from us to all of […]
Drilling For Money At BP Well?
The GUARDIAN returned yesterday from a visit to Florida yesterday and it was interesting to see how many folks are “standing in the welfare line” that leads directly to BP. While we agree that BP should pay “all legitimate claims” and their leaking well has killed 11 humans (even though they may be small people), […]
Forget Bureaucrats, Trust Your Politicos
A series of recent events, backed up by press releases from the offices of politicos from City Hall to the United States Senate are leaving the GUARDIAN confused. Most recent was a move to locate TRACON–the local aviation radar operators who sit in a dark windowless room–in Boise instead of a consolidated facility at the […]
Bieter Seeks To Abolish Citizen’s Right To Vote
Using an appearance before the Chamber of Commerce as a “bully pulpit,” Boise Mayor Dave Bieter urged citizens to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would serve only to abolish rights citizens currently enjoy to approve bonds to pay for airport facilities. We find it ironic the good Mayor seeks to abolish the right of […]
Gas-Fired Power Plant Aborted, City Headed For Solar Deal
Like their unending efforts to get into the train business, Boise’s Team Dave is headed into a scheme with a private business using public land–this time for yet another electricity generating facility. Back in January 2006 the GUARDIAN REPORTED on a below market lease subsidy deal for a gas-fired plant near Gowen Field. That plan […]
Secret Deal Puts Hammer Flat In Limbo, Public Access To Truth Denied
Sneaking around citizens has once again caused an otherwise good project to get a bad rap in Boise. The proposed Cliffs subdivision (known as Hammer Flat) on the plateau above Lucky Peak Dam has long been a winter home to deer antelope and elk. Wildlife groups fought the developer at public hearings and the development […]
Crapo For Boise City Council?
In the middle of the hub bub over thelack of public discussion–or even public awareness over the sale of Boise City land to the State of Idaho, Senior Sen. Mik Crapo’s PR machine sent out a press release calling for “TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY IN FINANCIAL REFORM CONFERENCE.” While this is at the national level dealing with […]
Bieter Continues To Perform At Chamber “Live Aid”
The GUARDIAN first posted a version of this story 5 years ago and thanks to our complaints about no free tickets, the Chamber of Commerce makes access available for free to those wishing to get up erly and hear Dave Bieter talk on June 2. We probably won’t hear about the public outcry AGAINST a […]
Boise City Continues Quest For Train
In yet ANOTHER attempt at playing trains, Mayor Dave Bieter has entered into a secret negotiation with the Boise Valley Railroad–the shortline that runs through town–to explore building a freight facility on land owned by Boise citizens. Seems that Team Dave can’t get support for a trolley. They also can’t get a downtown “transit center” […]
BSU Finance and Land Use Planning 101
This post was originally sent to the GUARDIAN as a comment from a reader. We felt it worthy of a full blown post. By DEAN GUNDERSON BSU has held an A1 Bond rating by Moody’s for its last few issuances. This puts it on a relative investment risk on par with the countries of South […]
Agency Leery of BSU Private Building Scheme
As financial shenanigans on the part of public agencies have come to light on projects ranging from university housing to urban renewal projects, it becomes increasingly clear they depend on “flying under the radar” of public scrutiny. A report in the Saturday Daily Paper quotes BSU Prez Bob Kustra saying, Moody Investor Services, “Came along […]
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