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 GUARDIAN it was a “no brainer” on how the city should view the proposed bill which would have mandated election of board members by the public–she was against it.

She said there was “nothing nefarious” about the way things are being handled with regard to the Idaho Legislature adding, “We have taken measures to increase communication among council members with weekly e-mails from the lobbyist.”

She said councilors were welcome to attend a weekly Monday meeting to get further updates regarding legislative issues effecting Boise. We applaud the move.

The GUARDIAN did some further checking and finds that on January 16 Boise Councilors hired not only the local Gallatin Group and lobbyist Lyn Darrington for $45,000, but they also hired another firm, Ball Janik LLP for $66,000 to do their bidding with the Feds.

Each private lobbying firm is to be the “primary point of contact” between Boise and the Feds or State government.

We find this to be downright absurd!

We have ELECTED state and federal senators and representatives. We have ELECTED city councilors and a mayor. The system is dysfunctional if we need to BUY influence through lobbyists to be heard in the legislative halls of America. We are sickened at learning of this new practice.

Here is the job description in the city contract:
Scope of Work:
1) Serve as a consistent and effective primary point of contact between the City of Boise and State
agency officials and elected representatives.
2) Assist with development and execution of the City of Boise’s 2007 State legislative agenda,
including analysis, preparation, coordination, and filing of legislative items, whether statutory or
Constitutional in nature.
3) Identify, prioritize, monitor, and respond to State legislative and regulatory proposals that have
potential implications for the City of Boise and its operations, and report back regularly to City
officials regarding the status of these items.
4) Schedule and conduct frequent and regular meetings with State lawmakers, Legislative staff, City
of Boise officials, and representatives of the City’s governmental and community partners before,
during and after the 2007 State Legislative session.
5) Represent the interests of the City during the 2007 State Legislative session by regularly attending committee meetings, monitoring floor votes, preparing correspondence with key lawmakers, and providing relevant testimony when applicable.
6) Consult on a regular basis with City of Boise officials, including the Mayor, members of the City
Council, Department heads, and other City staff and advisers about the status of and strategy
regarding State legislative and statutory issues.

The BOISE WEEKLY did a story mentioning the lobbying contracts earlier and we expect a bigger one soon from the STATESMAN.

The flat topped outcropping of sandstone with the white “B”, cross and dozens of communication antennae overlooks the city and the entire valley. From Table Rock you can easily see in excess of 100 miles into Oregon and Owyhee County.

Like the Depot which is closed to the public most of the time, Table Rock is truly a landmark hidden in plain sight and should be promoted with directional signs throughout the city. It is a public area that should be shared with visitors and residents alike. Currently it is open only during daylight hours, but that could get changed with enough public interest.

With all the Californians moving here, they will appreciate that we have a spot that could rival Twin Peaks in San Francisco or Griffith Park in Los Angeles as a scenic overlook.

The sunsets are spectacular, the forested mountains at Bogus Basin seem close enough to touch. You can look DOWN on airplanes landing at Gowen Field and it is a great map lesson for young and old alike to identify streets, the Depot, Capitol Building, and other landmarks.

The land is owned by the Idaho Historical Society, is open to the public during daylight hours and Midwest towns would kill for such a view. We feel the overlook should be properly developed by either the State Parks Department, The Foothills Preservation Committee, or Boise City. How about everyone kicking in to put up safety railings around the sharp drop-off and improve the road?

To get a taste of the spectacular view and solitude, drive up Reserve Street behind St. Luke’s Hospital. Go past the fire station and just follow the winding road up hill. Make a Right turn on TABLE ROCK Rd. If you start going downhill you missed it. Drive slowly over the speed bumps, the folks in the expensive houses aren’t keen on traffic in their neighborhood.

The road eventually turns to gravel, but careful driving will get you safely to the top. Enjoy the view and send us your impressions–along with your your photos!

NOTE: We will not entertain any discussion for or against the cross. It is there, it is owned by the Jaycees and they own the 4 feet of ground it sits upon as well. Let’s see if we can improve an asset we already have.

A MEMORABLE RESPONSE TO OUR PICTURE QUEST–
Here are some pictures of our grandson, Kim Forrey, and his new bride, Brenna Forrey, who were married up there under the cross on April 30, 2006. It was a fun time with just close family.
–Barb Forrey

EDITOR NOTE–Nice location, nice pictures, pretty bride, handsome groom. For a Thousand dollar bill you could have had the Depot too!

The quick answer is that it will probably help your property tax bill remain just about the same or a little less despite skyrocketing values. The exemption was raised from $50,000 to $75,000 but the big benefit for lower value homes is the exemption now applies to both the improvement AND the land values. Under the old law the exemption applied only to the home value at a rate of $50,000 OR 50% of the value.

Here are two hypothetical scenarios based on a lower value and a higher value home.

House #1
2005 (old law) House and land combined value $150,000

House $100,000
Land $50,000
Exempt -$50,000 (On house only)

TAX VALUE $100,000
In Boise that means you paid about $1,764 at the 2005 tax rate.

Under the new law the land also qualifies as part of the exemption for a total taxable value of $75,000
($150,000 less the exemption of $75,000) which means a 2006 tax bill of $1,323.

House #2
2005 (old law) House and land combined value $300,000

House $200,000
Land $100,000
Exempt -$50,000

TAXABLE VALUE $250,000
In Boise that means you paid about $4,411 at the 2005 rate.

Under the new law the land also qualifies as part of the exemption total, so the taxable value is reduced to $225,000 ($300,000 less the exemption of $75,000) with a 2006 tax bill of $3,970.

These figures are a pretty fair guideline, but since there is less value to be taxed, some agencies may raise the LEVY rate to compensate for loss of total taxable value. It is expected to be minimal for the next year however.

The GUARDIAN’s personal home stayed the same in value, but the land nearly doubled in one year. However the exemption brought the total TAX down by about $23!

–The frenzy to go after potential tuition dollars from junior college (community college) students continues with three colleges offering up plans for Southwest Idaho. We repeat our earlier lament: “Sad that established institutions see these students as sources of revenue rather than young minds to educate. In the case of Boise State, didn’t that used to be Boise JUNIOR COLLEGE? Sounds like BSU’s Dr. Bob wants to go back to the future. Bottom line is the bottom line once again. Politics and PR will win this fight.

–Out of town expert favors “eminent domain” to take away private land for public purposes as part of social engineering in downtown Boise. Seems the new downtown residential developments are either for the rich or the poor, leaving out the middle class.

That is because of laws that give developers financial advantages in the form of tax credits if they designate a certain number of units as “affordable housing.” Boise is talking about requiring developers to offer a certain number of units to specific income levels. Next thing will be car dealers being required to offer Kia, Toyota, and BMW.

–Tamarack Resort at Cascade continues to take public land in its quest to privatize the west side of the lake. This time the government has closed Poison Creek Campground. Next big one will be converting 18 square miles of Forest Service Land to State of Idaho so the resort will reap even more benefits which could include long term leases with cabin sites. Congressional delegation and state land board are all conspiring on the deal. They claim schools will benefit, but the real winner will be the foreign owners of the resort.

–Statesman editors are either growing cajones (for you non library types–bulls have them, but cows don’t) on news coverage or they are looking for unemployment checks. Saturday page one had Micron being sued over price fixing, Skier Speedy Peterson in a street brawl ejected from Italy. Sunday editorial took the county commishes and Boise councilors to the woodshed for tossing sand in each other’s faces over the detox fiasco. Nice departure from cheerleading “Boise is in the national”sportlight stories.

If the attorney general can thumb his nose at the United States senate on behalf of President George W. Bush’s wire tap practices, there is little hope to get the nuke waste out .

Andrus got the attention of the Dept. of Energy folks in 1988 when he had a state trooper impound a railroad boxcar full of waste coming into Idaho. The trooper stopped the boxcar at Pocatello and refused to let it move until a compromise was reached.

Then in 1995 Batt thought he had made history with an agreement he signed which everyone thought would have stored waste out of Idaho. Now the feds are challenging the deal and the trial is expected to last for a week.

Our elected “representatives” are currently giving only lip service to the notion of residential property tax relief.

Seems those tax bills, which in many cases have gone up 20 or 25 or even 33 percent over the space of a year or two, have gotten the attention of many people.

Governor Dirk addressed the issue in his State of the State address, on January 9 saying, “I recognize that property taxes are an increasing burden. I have a genuine concern in those areas of the state with rising property values, that seniors, those on fixed incomes, and the disabled might be priced out of their homes.”

He offered some relief to the poorest of the poor. A “circuit breaker” the old and infirm can apply for. Or he suggests they should be able to defer their property taxes until they die, at which time the house is sold to pay off the taxes (with interest, no doubt).

The rest of us oughtta just suck it up. Dirk says, “If citizens believe they are paying too much in property taxes, that debate belongs in the county courthouses and
the city halls.”

That’s pretty strong and principled talk, except that the duck doing the quacking is a lame duck. Other “public servants” in the statehouse are debating the issue. Some of them want to get re-elected, so they’re giving it a little more attention.

Amazingly, some are arguing that any homeowner relief would simply shift the burden to other property taxpayers. Was this same argument brought up last year, when it
was decided to give huge corporations tax breaks on their property?

I didn’t just fall off a beet truck, but maybe I’m dumb. Can somebody explain to me how it works?

–Gov Dirk wants to buy about $2 million worth of bare ground around the J.R. Simplot “free” governor’s mansion, noting that if the state doesn’t buy the land it will be developed full of houses–this from the guy who encourages people and businesses to move to Idaho, but NOT IN MY BACK YARD!

–Statesman headline proclaims “Parks plan could boost Idaho tourism.” Gov Dirk wants to put $34 million into something dubbed “Experience Idaho Initiative.” Does he envision an autoworker in Detroit opening a magazine and saying, “Look Lucy! They have six state parks in Idaho. Let’s load up the kids and go boost tourism!” State parks are nice, they need to be maintained, enjoyed, and perhaps even expanded. They will NOT boost tourism.

–Property taxes are a “local issue” according to Gov Dirk and he sees no reason for the state to get involved in any type of tax relief for property owners…he just wants to keep adding to the growth that causes the problem and continue to pay $5 a year for his own Valley County land tax.

–Every man woman and child in the state will get $50 for “heating bills” under a Gov Dirk proposal? The guy with the sign at the supermarket parking lot offering to work for food can make that in a good afternoon.

–Idaho is at the top of the list for new job s created and places to locate your business, but at the bottom in wages. Duh! Welcome to the new China—low cost labor and a middle class willing to subsidize big business. Oh, did we mention Idaho is one of the worst states in the country for emergency medical care?

–Dr. Bob at BSU wants a a community college in Boise (isn’t that what Boise Junior College was?) for a start up cost of $5 million in state funds. The kicker is that local counties would pay up to $3,000 per student to the state (BSU) while they attend the community college. It doesn’t take a political science prof to tell you the counties will not be donating to BSU when Gov Dirk won’t help out on property tax relief!

–Then there is legislator Bob Geddes’ plan to solve the overcrowding problem in Idaho prisons with a “night shift” plan where prisoners would share beds. Isn’t that the way it works now anyway? He thinks double bunking would be a good idea!! Not only will it take twice as much prison staff, EVERYONE will have to register and have their picture on the sheriff’s website.

BOSTON HERALD
BOISE, Idaho — After an 8-3 regular season, Boston College thought it deserved a better destination than the MPC Computers Bowl. And once the Eagles got out here, they felt more than a little disrespected at some over-the-top homerism surrounding the game that was supposed to be, in theory, at a neutral site.

BOSTON GLOBE
BOISE, Idaho — Monday he quietly sat through a banquet for the MPC Computers Bowl where he felt his polysyllabic last name was not only mangled, but disrespected by a chorus of civic speakers who turned the Beyond the Game dinner into an impromptu Boise State pep rally. Last night, after Boston College’s 27-21 victory over the Broncos, Mathias Kiwanuka rose up in his own defense, taking to task Boise’s mayor, Dave Bieter and Mike Adkins, chief executive officer of MPC Computers, for their remarks. (Ed note–“MA-THIGH-US KEY-WA-NOOKA.”)

SAN JOSE MERCURY
Game notes: It’s a home game for the Broncos, playing their final game under Coach Dan Hawkins, who is headed to Colorado. Boise State brings the nation’s 15th-ranked rushing attack against the Eagles’ fifth-rated run defense. A pertinent question, though, might be if Boston College will be motivated to play — there was some griping in Chestnut Hill that finishing 8-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference was worth more than a December date on Bronco Stadium’s famous blue turf.

A national sports radio talk show also took the locals to task for their inept diplomatic and hospitality efforts.

Folks, this is just football, but it should serve as a reality check. None of those who committed the faux pas (French for screw ups) had any intention of being boorish. They just need to realize that it is easy find yourself in the Bush League when hometown boosterism overcomes common courtesy and common sense. It is just a game, but it would be nice to be regarded as winners off the field as well as on.

Forty long years ago the GUARDIAN editor attended the Rose Bowl as the offical photog of the Michigan State Band. EVERYONE from Michigan felt like a special guest in Pasadena at every turn. The band was a big hit, but the Spartans still lost to UCLA, 14-12.

Before you jump on the GUARDIAN, beware there have been several letters of apology already sent eastward from Boise.

When Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney took it upon himself to get the ball rolling for the badly needed facility by including it in a new jail proposal, the GUARDIAN hauled out the law books and it became obvious it was a state function. We said as much in urging some state and local joint ventures in an October 1 DETOX POST.

When legislative auditors came to the same conclusion in December it was time to act. Here is the job posting to get the first employee onboard.

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“The Division of Family and Community Services with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is recruiting for a Project Director of the Division’s Substance Abuse Program to lead the development, implementation, and provide grant management and oversight of the Access to Recovery Grant.
Previous applications for this position will not be considered for this vacancy. Applications received will only be considered for this opening.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Projects require the incumbent be skilled in project management, including the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of projects
• Develop project goals, work plans, timelines, implementation strategies, and evaluation methods
• Identify decision-making issues and key stakeholders, develop and implement strategies to encourage and obtain stakeholder and/or community awareness and support, and identify project partners
• Identify and coordinate with program committees and advisory groups
• Administer project budgets, authorize expenditures, and develop and monitor contracts
• Coordinate publicity and development of informational materials
• Supervise project staff and provide direction to a project team
• May train and advise staff, project advocates, and program participants
• Plan, facilitate and conduct meetings
• Measure, evaluate and communicate program performance”

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This will still cost Ada County taxpayers, but hopefully a lot less than having Boise City and Ada County go it alone.

The issue at hand was about changing the overall structure of state employee’s pay system–important stuff. With the overwhelming Republican majority, a party discussion in private pretty much serves the same purpose of a full committee meeting–which is done in public.

Kemp told the GUARDIAN, “It didn’t seem right to move the discussion outside the committee room (which was open to the public), so I stayed.”

With just a few more acts of courage like that we may find that politicians aren’t all bad!

For the record, the GUARDIAN has opposed Kemp’s proposal to give tax breaks to Hollywood-type movie makers filming in Idaho. Free thought and exchange of ideas is good on all issues and Kemp understood that when she resisted secret discussion about public business.