Taxes
A Third Side to C. College
BY AN INSIDER As an employee of TVCC in Ontario (and an Idaho taxpayer), I obviously cannot comment publicly about the proposed election, but think there are several points being glossed over in the discussion about a community college district for Canyon and Ada county. 1. “Local control” is vastly overrated. Oregon community colleges are […]
C. College Cheaper Than Private Sector
It didn’t take long for the community college advocates to offer their view. This piece is by the communitycollegeyes.com spokesman. By ART SWIFT The new school will be the first comprehensive community college in the Treasure Valley. It will also use an existing campus, so there won’t be new construction needed. The school will be […]
Private Sector Fills Education Gap
While the cost of the May 22 election itself seems a major concern to commishes in Ada and Canyon Counties, GUARDIAN reader TIM RHODES offers up opposition to a proposed community college district. It requires a 2/3 approval. By TIM RHODES Creating a community college taxing district is a duplication of efforts and creates an […]
GUARDIAN Overwhelmed, Seeking Help
The GUARDIAN has been overwhelmed with information on stories the local media has either missed or refuses to research and publish or air. We have actual e-mail texts below or summaries. I simply cannot do the research and writing on these with no staff and continue to make a living with my photo business. If […]
CCDC Jumps On Arid Club Issue
Boise’s Urban Renewal agency board, the CCDC (Capitol City Development Corp.) made a code-3 response after the GUARDIAN sounded the alarm, revealing they have been approving use of public funds to pay for membership in a private club. Within 18 hours of the GUARDIAN posting, the board had unanimously decided to stop paying for Director […]
Develop At All Costs Everywhere
The GUARDIAN admits a lack of knowledge about the funding details of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, but we know when things don’t smell right and a bill to expand bond authority for IHFA has an aroma. We know IHFA is created by Idaho law, but it isn’t a state agency. People who work […]
Monkeys In Urban Jungle
Southwest Ada residents against annexation are conducting their annual legislative battle with cities who want to capture them–and their taxes–against their will. We thought it was time to roll out this early GUARDIAN post. In the realm of Southwest Idaho Cities, Boise stands head and shoulders above the rest as the “800 pound gorilla” with […]
Luxury Living At Our Expense
The Daily Paper tells us there are no fewer than 11 condo projects currently in the works for downtown Boise. It looks like all but one has already been approved by the City. If you are into growth, more people living in “a vibrant core area that creates economic vitality,” lots of cars, and dirty […]
Boise Taxes Go to Private Lobbyists
The recent GUARDIAN piece questioning WHO calls the shots regarding the Boise City position on state legislation has prompted increased communication among Boise Councilors. It seems council president Elaine Clegg gave direction to lobbyist Lyn Darrington on how to testify on a bill that would impact Boise’s urban renewal agency, the CCDC. She told the […]
Rio Inspires Thoughts of Boise
The GUARDIAN’s recent fact finding trip to Brazil gave us plenty of inspiration for ways to improve life in Boise. After visiting the favelas of Rio we can clearly see the benefits of “in fill” development advocated by some members of Boise’s city council. You can certainly create a demand for mass transit and eliminate […]
Vote Them Out Of Office
Boise’s urban renewal director and the Chamber of Commerce lobbyist were able to convince legislators to hold an urban renewal reform bill in committee Friday, effectively killing the proposal. From the reports and quotes we have seen–especially the great reporting by Lora Volkert at the Idaho Business News web site–it is another story of government […]
Legislature Could Rein In CCDC
Thanks to some fed up folks up north, we may have a shot at reforming the CCDC and all the subsidy to developers at the expense of us common folk. There is a pair bills in the legislature up for hearing Friday that could force ELECTION of urban renewal boards. These guys take our tax […]
Public Employee Bonus Plan Take Two
We got to thinking about this bonus business for public employees and came up with a plan that should define the compensation system. It is really quite simple. Public employees are EXPECTED to do a good job, be on time and not absent from work. Those who do good things and follow the rules should […]
CCDC Gets Windfall From Schools
The new tax law passed during the one day session of the legislature might appropriately be called the “Law of Unintended Consequences.” One thing it did was create a windfall profit for the CCDC, (Capitol City Development Corp.) Boise’s urban renewal agency. Prior to passage of the new tax law, all the tax revenues on […]
Tax Rates Low, But Changes Due
The 2006 tax levy numbers are in and Ada County Assessor Bob McQuade offers up a detailed series of charts and numbers so you can FIGURE YOUR TAX. The GUARDIAN cuts to the chase and will let you know the tax on your house will be right at 1.38% of the TAXABLE value–the assessed value […]
Anger In North Idaho
Folks in Bonner County were a little smug when the Commishes rolled back property values to the previous year’s rates following big value hikes issued by the local assesor. In short, the Commishes simply overruled the assessor on appraised values for the ENTIRE COUNTY–not just individual parcels while sitting in their capacity as Board of […]
Secret Tax Policy
If reports are true in the Daily Paper, Idaho has a secret tax system administered by a commission which grants sales tax breaks to some businesses, but not others. Ken Dey, the reincarnated business editor at the Daily Paper broke a major story Thursday when he revealed a secret tax deal between the Idaho Tax […]
20% Sales Tax Increase
We have been trying to wrap our brain around the property tax relief Gov. Jim Risch bullied through the legislature. We think the law of unintended consequences may come into play since nobody had a plan that could be understood or endorsed without reservation. The shift from property tax to sales tax may not be […]
Feds Pay Poop Farm Subsidy
One of Ada County’s biggest recipients of farm subsidy (welfare) payments from the U.S. Government last year was none other than Boise City’s “Poop Farm” which qualified for $30,577 in welfare. No word from the city if the money found its way into the general fund and got swallowed up or was added to the […]
Eagle Voters Burned In “Stealth Election”
About 90% of Eagle residents who went to the polls Tuesday missed out on an important Fire District vote because that election was held at a single location apart from the other 6 polling precincts. About 3,000 residents voted in Eagle in the primary, but the permanent Fire override tax levy had fewer than 300 […]
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