Urban Renewal raises property taxes. It’s a fact. The LCDC doesn’t want to tell you that, but it’s true. The question is whether that increase in property taxes is worth the benefit of the Urban Renewal. Some folks in Caldwell don’t think so.
December 18, 2008
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Now that money is tight and state tax revenues are predicted to plummet, maybe our state officials will look at the negative tax impact urban renewal has on taxpayers all over the state. Could that be a saving grace?–maybe if they limit/reduce urban renewal tax increment, they can return significant revenues to the cities and counties without raising taxes on already struggling property owners.
Comment by mary — December 18, 2008 @ 6:23 pm
Urban renewal is simply “taxation without representation”. Our country fought this battle a long time ago but it is back again in the form of Urban Renewal. This blatant slight of hand with cities is getting abused all over Idaho and taxpayers are finally figuring out it is PROPERTY TAX DOLLLARS funding the “alter ego” boards of urban renewal.
Urban renewal is formed by mayors and city councils boards are members elected city officials and they have the nerve to call themselves a “state agency” when they serve only to carry out the agendas of the mayor and city council set forth. voting for capital improvements in cities has all but evaporated in Idaho due to Urban renewal. Read Article 8 section 3 of the Idaho Constitution. No city or political subdivision can incur debt beyond one budget cycle for any reason for a debt, liability or obligation without 2/3rd assent of the electorate.
Comment by paul — December 18, 2008 @ 9:13 pm
Thanks, Paul. Please check out our documents for some of our writings on Urban Renewal. Obviously local elected officials are not going to reign in this abuse, so it’s up to the citizens and taxpayers to fight for responsible government.
Comment by Dan — December 18, 2008 @ 9:21 pm
Paul, thanks for your clear explanation. Most voters are not aware they are being left in the lurch.
Comment by mary — December 19, 2008 @ 8:24 am
It has been my first hand experience you can attend meetings, voice your objections, write letters and complain and it will do you no good. You need to find enough people willing to put up the money to take them on in court using the 2006 Frazier v. City of Boise supreme court decision defining “ordinary and necessar” and the 2008 Koch v. Canyon County decision regarding “standing” with respect to Arcile VIII sec. 3 of the Idaho Constitution. Urban Renewal is not constitutional when held up side by side with the Constitution of the State of Idaho. Either the Legislature, the Supreme Court of a combination of both need to fix this blatant rip off of the property taxpayers of Idaho.
The Idaho Associations of Cities and Counties lobby the state legislature with your tax dollars to keep the fleecing components of tax law in place and it has to be put to a stop. Elected city and county officals have become addicted to the “easy pay” plan for everything they do and taxpayers get stuck with all their bad decisions and addictions to easy credit.
You need to find a competent municipal law attorney that is sympathetic to your cause and will work for whatevery you can raise in fees. They are out there and there are plent of folks plenty ticked off about the abuses of urban renewal laws.
good luck, and remeber it is one thing to complain and another to shove it right back at them in a courtroom.
Comment by paul — December 19, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
that paul guy, he is right. rankin used the courts. he won. the old boys club hated that.
Comment by TheWiz — December 19, 2008 @ 3:36 pm