This year, the citizens of Kootenai County paid their property taxes to support local government. City, County, NIC, Highway, and other taxing districts missed out on $3.5 million of that money. Where did it go? Why, to the LCDC of course!
Because of the way urban renewal is funded, money you pay in property taxes gets “skimmed.” In theory, only those living within an urban renewal district’s revenue allocation area (RAA) pay for urban renewal. But because of the way property taxes are calculated, everyone — everyone in the county — makes up the difference by paying higher taxes.
This year, $3,524,373.08 was the amount taken from taxing entities by the LCDC. What are they doing with that money that benefits you?
And remember: They LCDC is not set to retire for another 16 years. That $3.5 million continues to grow every year, year after year, siphoning off more money from fire, police, streets, parks, and our community college. They have no plan. They have ambition and politics behind them. Can anyone tell me how the LCDC is a good thing?
To your question “What are they doing with that money that benefits you?”, I’d answer they are hiring public relations flacks to try and convince an increasingly skeptical public that they are doing anything at all that benefits us. The number of beneficiaries was narrow and is getting narrower.
My Whitecaps post in March 2007 titled “…When Greed Masquerades As Need…” was a modest effort to help understand the LCDC’s behavior. The best part of the post was not what I said but what Dr. Daniel Gilbert noted in his New York Times editorial comment from the New York Times of March 25, 2007. He eloquently explains what the LCDC is doing to, not for, the people of Kootenai County.
Comment by Bill — September 12, 2008 @ 7:17 am
The amount of $3.5 million is substantial but the rate of income growth for the LCDC is more dramatic still. Keep in mind that this value is speculative meaning that the final audit for FY2008 has yet to be done. Last year the projected property tax income versus the final numbers were quite different with 25% more property tax income collected than was projected. Regardless just using this number the LCDC property tax income is up by 33% form the previous year. 2007 income was up 64% from 2006 income and those were final audited numbers.
Consider also that the LCDC URD is now larger thanks to the Sorenson School addition so more property tax revenue will shift to the LCDC and away from city coffers.
Understand that the property tax income for the city of Couer d”Alene for 2007 was $11.32 million. So in 2007 the LCDC skimmed off 23% of the city’s property tax income. Projecting ahead to 2008 the LCDC will take 27% of the city’s property tax revenues. 1 quarter of the city’s property taxes go to the LCDC to be used as they see fit, with no public input or voter consequences. It will not be too long but what the LCDC takes in half of the city’s property taxes
Comment by Wallypog — September 12, 2008 @ 8:05 am
cancers grow. then they metastize. lcdc grew. the education corridor is the metastatic emergence of poison. federal laws broken, state laws broken and claims of the public good all mixed together with land developers and greed. soon enough the color will shift from green to orange.
Comment by TheWiz — September 12, 2008 @ 4:59 pm
Can anyone tell us what percentage is skimmed off the Kootenai County taxes?
Comment by Mama Bear — September 14, 2008 @ 8:20 pm
Last year, all the URDs in the county raised the amount you paid in county property taxes by 4.5%. That’s all URDs, though the LCDC is a big percentage of that due to the huge size of its districts. I’d need new numbers from the county to calculate what the percentage is now.
$3.5 million is a lot. It’s teachers, it’s parks, it’s policemen. And they take that money and give it to their friends.
Comment by Dan — September 14, 2008 @ 8:30 pm
Dan, Thanks. I would appreciate the new numbers. I wish our County Commissioners, Rocky Watsons and others would be more vocal on the issue of lost revenue. What we need here is a little County leadership on this issue. What do you think of my opinion?
Comment by Mama Bear — September 15, 2008 @ 9:40 am
Leadership? When it comes to leadership in local government we have a vacuum, especially at CDA City Hall and NIC. I’m growing fond on what Hazel Bauman is doing at SD271 and I’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Todd Tondee also has my support at the county, but he’s having a hell of a time getting his message out. The biggest problem we face is that 80 percent of the people just don’t care.
Comment by Dan — September 15, 2008 @ 9:49 am