There’s a new LCDC web site now. (thanks for the heads up, Bill) Here’s the link: http://www.lcdc.org
And here’s what the left margin says:
LCDC is a public entity
LCDC is not a taxing entity, and thus does not levy property taxes
LCDC uses a portion of property taxes collected by taxing entities within certain “district areas to fund projects benefiting the public
LCDC does not raise property taxes; LCDC’s impact are “neutral” to the property tax payer
Comments?
#4: LCDC DOES cause INCREASES in property taxes for every single property owner in the county. For Tony to say differently is either purposefully misleading or downright dishonest!
Comment by mary — March 11, 2009 @ 5:58 pm
Oh well…if you say so Tony!
Tony Berns, an arrogant duplitious piece of work.
Comment by Faringdon — March 11, 2009 @ 6:21 pm
Expecting honesty from Berns is like expecting virginity from Madonna.
Comment by Bill — March 11, 2009 @ 7:28 pm
I visited the LCDC web site and the first thing I clicked on was the LCDC Annual Planning Session in the upcoming events section. When you click on more details under description, you are directed to a page which displays a Google Map and the message that “the guest list has been hidden at the organizer’s request.” This is a major improvement as they are being much more open about hiding information from taxpayers. I really would like to hear Mr. Bern’s explanation on how the LCDC doesn’t raise taxes. However, I don’t think that will happen soon as this agency and those responsible for their oversight have been exceptionally quiet this week. I sincerely hope that the Public Relations Specialist that we have paid for, Stephany Bales from PacWest is putting a neat spin to the latest press coverage. As taxpayers we deserve her best!
How much did this new web site cost us? Since this form of information sharing is developed by an individual who also works for the Coeur d’Alene Chamber in a job share arrangement; I would expect a link to the Chamber site. After all Mr. Bern’s has his office in the Chamber Building and much of the pretty art the chamber likes to show off is funded with 3% of the tax increment received. The way the LCDC tax increment is growing, art will be everywhere. But I’m happy that the arts commission understands exactly what we want to see as evidenced by the choice of a renowned art critic and softball organizer to lead this effort.
I thought that dot.org web addresses indicated organizations, such as charities, churches and service clubs. Because the Lake City Development Corporation is about commercial development shouldn’t their web address be more appropriately a dot.com?
Although it is not listed in the upcoming events, the next regularly scheduled open meeting of LCDC is next Wednesday at 5:30PM. I wonder how they would react to a full house of citizens asking questions and making comments.
Comment by doubleseetripleeye — March 11, 2009 @ 11:55 pm
I wonder if he can be called on this out right LIE? Is there an agency that can be contacted for these false claims?
He is also misleading with the comment of it being a public entity. Why then Mr Berns do you not respect the public and their money?
Comment by concerned citizen — March 12, 2009 @ 8:02 am
concerned citizen,
The Coeur d’Alene Mayor and City Council are supposed to oversee the conduct of the LCDC. I’m sure if you complain to them, they will direct the City Attorney’s Office to act on your complaint with glacial speed.
Comment by Bill — March 12, 2009 @ 8:07 am
Having quickly glanced at the site I have located a new word for the lexicon. In big bold letters the LCDC proclaims it is “Creating public BENIFIT for the people of Coeur d’Alene”. So, to go along with ‘ironical’ we now have a new spelling for ‘benefit’.
There is more to this than the simple failure to use spell check. It is a classic Freudian slip. It is a parapraxis where the perpetrator consciously says or writes something but unconsciously screws it up because they know they or essentially lying. In other words the LCDC knows full well that they do NOT benefit Coeur d”Alene and for all the eyes that proof read this statement none of them found the obvious error.
Dan I suggest you copy and paste this before they can get it fixed.
Comment by Wallypog — March 12, 2009 @ 8:18 am
Very revealing, Wallypog!
Comment by mary — March 12, 2009 @ 8:24 am
Bill,
ROFLMAO!!!! No, I meant someone that REALLY will listen!
Comment by concerned citizen — March 12, 2009 @ 8:24 am
Wallypog,
How about this one: “LCDC does not raise property taxes; LCDC’s impact are ‘neutral’ to the property tax payer.”?
Its impact “are” neutral?
Glad the LCDC didn’t waste any public money on proofreading.
Comment by Bill — March 12, 2009 @ 8:26 am
As someone who builds web sites, it looks to me like the LCDC site went “live” before it should have gone live. Several of the pages are the old pages recycled. Some of the animations don’t work, and there are too many animations anyway. Like many of the projects the LCDC has funded, the site is big on what someone probably believes to be “pretty” and weak on information. This may not be the web designer’s fault as he/she may simply be responding to erratic orders from the LCDC itself.
Face it, the priority at the LCDC is not the dispersal of information. I believe their priorities to be:
1. Patronage.
2. Concealment.
3. Self-preservation.
Serving the public doesn’t even rank. I’m basing this on their behavior, not their PR.
Comment by Dan — March 12, 2009 @ 8:37 am
Thank you Bill…your humor is priceless!
I think next weeks words should be “arrogant” and “duplitious”.
I did not go to the LCDC web site. My blood pressure medicine isn’t that strong!
Comment by Faringdon — March 12, 2009 @ 8:56 am
Then there is this under “Current News” on the left side:
“New Website comming soon”. Comming?
Comment by reddy — March 12, 2009 @ 10:36 am
It is evident that grammar isn’t big on the list of LCDC priorities. Their depth of arrogance certainly is astounding. Here’s a handful of people provided millions in our tax dollars whose vision for the city is their own and they presume that of each and every CdA resident. How interesting that these same people refuse to ever give those CdA citizens any opportunity to agree or disagree with their plans. If they’re so confident in their plans why not put some of them to a vote?
Seriously the web site looks like a message to the peons from high atop Olympus. “Only we know what is good for the city, its future and for you leeeetle peoples too”.
Comment by Wallypog — March 12, 2009 @ 10:50 am
“LCDC does not raise property taxes”
Technically, that’s correct.LCDC does not raise property taxes.But, because they increase property values wherever they fund developments in the URD.They do increase property taxes.
Comment by kageman — March 12, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
Kageman, it goes well beyond that. LCDC skims the tax increment (all increases since ’97) off of the whole downtown and more, so in order to make the budget of the city and county “whole”, the levy rate is increased to make up the difference for what they DON”T get from LCDC.
That’s why LCDC rasies property taxes.
Size DOES Matter: LCDC causes a higher increases because of their massive districts, as compared to small, specific districts. It’s out of control use of urban renewal (LCDC) vs. responsible use.
Comment by mary — March 12, 2009 @ 3:56 pm
Mary,
I think it should be said that they use the “shoestring” method to lengthen the original URD to the new URD date which keeps the monies going to the LCDC from the existing URD THROUGH the new date instead those monies going back into city where they belong.
YOu know what I am trying to say. 🙂
I am sure you can word it properly.
Comment by concerned citizen — March 12, 2009 @ 4:45 pm
concerned citizen,
Here’s the formula: Rube Goldberg + perpetual motion machine = LCDC shoestringing
Comment by Bill — March 12, 2009 @ 5:19 pm
I think Kageman has hit something here. Again, remember Tony’s use of the English language. The LCDC doesn’t raise property taxes, the City Council does. The reason they raise them, however, is because the LCDC exists. So in my world, the LCDC does “raise” property taxes because their existence causes the levy to be higher. But in Tony’s world, and that of those who don’t understand the LCDC or who support it, it’s not the same thing.
Comment by Dan — March 13, 2009 @ 8:39 am
So I took advantage of the “contact us” link to ask a question, because of Tony saying previously that critics should ask questions instead of just complaining. I got an immediate reply. It was from the website server telling me my email was rejected as the site was inoperative. Guess, I’ll just have to depend on rumor and perception, well earned, I might add.
Comment by Gary Ingram — March 13, 2009 @ 11:16 am
Hey give the LCDC website a break. It is a work in progress like the LCDC is. Mr. Nipp is going to get those disclosures finished any year now.
Comment by Wallypog — March 13, 2009 @ 12:48 pm