[Vision2020] Moscow's future

[roger hayes]

Confused by misleading arguments about the Hawkins development? Let's 
simplify:
*There is a finite amount of retail dollars a community can spend on 
consumer goods.
*Competition for those dollars among retailers is fierce. It is, 
indeed, a struggle for survival.
*Location, price, taxation, government assistance, and image are major 
factors in competitive advantage. The businesses at Hawkins will 
compete with Moscow businesses. Some will loose. It will be Moscow 
businesses.
*If Moscow businesses move out of state,  or go out of business, the 
city's tax base will be reduced. Remaining residential, and businesses 
will have to pick up the slack.
*Hawkins (possibly WalMart) would have had to spend millions of dollars 
building the infrastructure. Because Moscow will provide water and 
sewer to them, they will not have to spend that money. It gives them a 
competitive advantage over other businesses as they will have more 
money to compete fiercely with Moscow businesses.
*Moscow water and sewer services are part of a social contract with 
members of the community. The city supplies these services to 
businesses which then provide tax revenue to the city and state for 
essential services such as schools, libraries, police, fire, and city 
employees. Any businesses on the Washington side of the line provide no 
revenue to the city or state. This is a subsidy with no monetary return.
*There was no litigation about Hawkins' water rights.  All the council 
had to do was drop its appeal. The quantity of water removed from the 
aquifer will be about the same.
*Providing sewer services to Hawkins has no connection to the water 
rights granted by Washington DOE. It is a gift and a subsidy.
*Selling water to Hawkins for a profit, as some have suggested, is 
"mining water." This contract may be illegal under Idaho law.

Moscow city council members who voted for this agreement believe, 
"development at any cost" is a reasonable policy. It may enrich a few, 
but at great cost to the majority.
The community needs to inspect the council's motivation behind this 
agreement and make some decisions.

Roger Hayes
Moscow