[Vision2020] HJR 4 and 5

[Donovan Arnold]

"It's very limiting for these entities to need a 2/3 favorable vote every time they need to make these purchases that they need for their operations."-S. Ringo
 
Democracy is so inconvenient isn't it? 
 
 
I think it is good practice to have a 2/3 vote before incurring any debt and bad practice to let a handful of people rack up a debt for future generations and others to absorb. I think if something truly is needed and debt needs to be incurred reasonable people will support it and it will pass. We cannot just let hospitals go bankrupt and shut down let other businesses, we need them. 
 
Again, people should not keep handing over their money and rights to an increasingly smaller number of people that may have other interests than your own in mind. 
 
Donovan J Arnold

--- On Mon, 10/25/10, ringoshirl <ringoshirl at moscow.com> wrote:


From: ringoshirl <ringoshirl at moscow.com>
Subject: [Vision2020] HJR 4 and 5
To: vision2020 at moscow.com
Date: Monday, October 25, 2010, 5:32 AM





Visionaries:
 
I support both of these.  It's very limiting for these entities to need a 2/3 favorable vote every time they need to make these purchases that they need for their operations. This does not affect Gritman.
 
Shirley
 

H.J.R. 4
“Shall Section 3C, Article VIII, of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended to authorize
public hospitals, ancillary to their operations and in furtherance of health care needs in their service
areas, to incur indebtedness or liability to purchase, contract, lease or construct or otherwise acquire
facilities, equipment, technology and real property for health care operations, provided that no ad
valorem tax revenues shall be used for such activities?”
Proposed Amendment to the Constitution of the State of Idaho: Section 3C, Article VIII
Legislative Council’s Statement of Meaning, Purpose and Result to be Accomplished of Proposed
Amendment:
This proposed amendment will allow public hospitals to acquire facilities, equipment, technology and
real property through a variety of means that aid the public hospital operations, as long as the acquisitions
are paid for solely from charges, rents or payments derived from the existing or financed facilities and
are not funded by property taxes. Under current Idaho constitutional provisions, public hospitals, as
subdivisions of the state of Idaho, have limited ability to incur debt without the approval of a two-thirds
vote at an election held for that purpose. This proposed amendment will provide a limited alternative
to that two-thirds vote requirement. The use of tax dollars to finance these kinds of investments is
prohibited.
Statements FOR the Proposed Amendment
1. The proposed amendment will allow Idaho’s public hospitals, which are primarily located in
small towns and rural areas, to invest in new medical equipment, facilities and technology to
better meet the health care needs of patients in their communities, strengthening Idaho’s entire
health care system.
2. The proposed amendment will help give public hospitals the resources they need to attract the
best medical personnel, spur the economy by creating jobs, and increase operational efficiency
through long-term contracts.
3. The proposed amendment keeps in place the safeguards provided in the Idaho Constitution in
two ways. First, no tax dollars can be used to finance these investments. Second, the amendment
strictly forbids obligating taxpayers or any state, county or other governmental entity with these
investments.
Statements AGAINST the Proposed Amendment
1. The existing Idaho constitutional requirement mandating a two-thirds assent of the voters before
a public hospital can enter into long-term debt is an important safeguard for all Idaho citizens.
2. Adoption of the proposed amendment will limit the right of voters to approve certain debt
incurred by the public hospitals.
3. Changes to the Constitution should be made only for major issues of interest to the state or in the
event of a constitutional crisis.
H.J.R. 5
“Shall Article VIII, of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended by the addition of a new
Section 3E, to provide for the issuance of revenue and special facility bonds by political subdivisions
of the state and regional airport authorities as defined by law, if operating an airport to acquire,
construct, install, and equip land, facilities, buildings, projects or other property, which are hereby
deemed to be for a public purpose, to be financed for, or to be leased, sold or otherwise disposed of
to persons, associations or corporations, or to be held by the subdivision or regional airport authority,
and may in the manner prescribed by law issue revenue and special facility bonds to finance the costs
thereof; provided that any such bonds shall be payable solely from fees, charges, rents, payments,
grants, or any other revenues derived from the airport or any of its facilities, structures, systems, or
projects, or from any land, facilities, buildings, projects or other property financed by such bonds,
and shall not be secured by the full faith and credit or the taxing power of the subdivision or regional
airport authority?”
Proposed Amendment to the Constitution of the State of Idaho: New Section 3E, Article VIII
Legislative Council’s Statement of Meaning, Purpose and Result to be Accomplished of Proposed
Amendment:
Currently, local governmental entities that operate airports and regional airport authorities cannot
incur indebtedness without the approval of a two-thirds vote at an election held for that purpose. This
proposed amendment will allow local governmental entities that operate airports and regional airport
authorities to issue revenue and special facility bonds to acquire, construct, install and equip land,
facilities, buildings, projects or other property. Voter approval will not be required to incur such
indebtedness, as long as the bonds are paid for by fees, charges, rents, payments, grants or other
revenues derived from the airport or its facilities. The use of tax dollars to repay such bonds is
prohibited.
Statements FOR the Proposed Amendment
1. Public airports should have the ready ability to construct needed facilities, such as terminals,
runways, parking structures and hangars, which provide travelers with better services and
accommodations and attract industries to Idaho as long as the users pay for these facilities.
2. Political subdivisions and regional airport authorities need the ability to efficiently address
operational needs as they arise. Adoption of this amendment will provide this ability without the
use of tax dollars to repay any debt or liability incurred.
3. The inability of political subdivisions and regional airport authorities to incur indebtedness and
liability without voter approval has been a contributing factor in driving regional aviation-related
industries to conduct business in neighboring states. If the proposed amendment is not adopted,
Idaho could continue to lose similar economic development opportunities.
4. Public airports are a vital part of economic development and commerce in the state of Idaho. In
2009, aviation contributed an estimated $2.1 billion to Idaho’s economy. Properties and facilities
funded by special facility bonds will attract and expand industries, such as maintenance, manufacturing
and cargo operations, which will create new jobs and foster economic development in
Idaho. Modern and efficient airports are essential to Idaho’s prosperity.
Statements AGAINST the Proposed Amendment (H.J.R. 5 Continued)
1. The existing Idaho constitutional requirement mandating a two-thirds assent of the voters before
a political subdivision or regional airport authority can incur debt is an important safeguard for
all Idaho citizens.
2. Adoption of the proposed amendment will allow political subdivisions and regional airport
authorities to acquire, construct, install and equip land, facilities, buildings and projects that are
not specifically limited to airport operations.
3. Buildings and land owned by the government are not taxed and therefore provide no revenues to
schools, cities, counties or other levying authorities. Adoption of the proposed amendment could
result in an increase in property exempt from taxation.
4. Changes to the Constitution should be made only for major issues of interest to the entire state
or in the event of a constitutional crisis.
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