That massive Urban Renewal legislation in Boise was paid for by Ada County taxpayers to the tune of $30,000. Don’t think that they’re suckers: Kootenai County residents paid to support it. The LCDC’s lobbyist is paid for with city and county tax dollars, and Tony Berns as well as a team from the Post Falls URA were paid to fly down to testify for the massive bill.
Other taxing entities around the state are hurting for money, but Urban Renewal in Idaho is flush with cash and eager to spend it. This situation will only change when you get angry enough to do something about it.
The House Revenue and Taxation sub committee charged with the task of making recommendations on the package of Urban Renewal bills dissolved themselves last week and reorganized as a “task force”. This process results in a less than open meeting scenario where “informal discussions” can be held exclusively among committee members. Problem is they have held several of these meetings in a conference room, not a committee hearing room. The only notice is through committee announcements. Problem also is the public can observe if they happen to know of the meetings schedule. Big problem is the lobbyists for Urban Renewal Industry (those who make their life earnings and career off of the taxpayers) are there in force and participating to insure their interests are embedded.
Best case scenarios:
1. The legislators will not cave in and dissolve with no recommendation.
2. The legislators will recommend some of corrective amendments sponsored by members of the committee and ignore The Industry.
3. The legislators will punt into a summer interim study to find out what TAXPAYERS want.
Comment by Gary Ingram — March 9, 2010 @ 11:53 am
What are the worst case scenarios, Gary?
Comment by mary — March 9, 2010 @ 12:45 pm
A rhetorical question Mary, but I’ll play along in the same format. Others may want to play as well. Limit it to three, best or worst.
Worst case scenarios:
1. Legislators will adopt The Industry Omnibus Bill with little or no modification.
2. The Industry will add even more self serving provisions to the Industry Omnibus Bill.
3. Taxation without representation will continue.
Comment by Gary Ingram — March 9, 2010 @ 2:08 pm