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<DIV><FONT size=2>Not to mention the egregious conflicts of interests by three
URA board members and the corruption shown by the favoritism toward two Moscow
developers and other acts that reek of corruption and stupidity.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Perhaps its time to start planning and working toward removing
in the next election the mayor and insensitive city councilpersons who are who
enabling and supporting this corruption.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>W.</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=bjswan@moscow.com href="mailto:bjswan@moscow.com">B. J. Swanson</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, December 07, 2008 11:53
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] Urban Renewal
Agency Impact on Taxpayers</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal>On November 6, 2008, the Moscow Urban Renewal Agency
Commissioners toured the urban renewal districts in Coeur d’Alene that are the
subject of the first of two articles in the Coeur d’Alene Press. The
first article is below. Please note the subscriber comments following
the article.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Apparently the Moscow URA Commissioners hoped to gather
inspiration from Coeur d’Alene on how to spend more of your tax dollars.
In particular, how to spend your tax dollars to enrich private
developers without a vote of the taxpayers. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Here are some other items the Moscow URA spent your tax
dollars on this year:<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><![endif]>Spending up to $5,000 of your tax dollars to
file a “Friend of the Court” brief for the <U>Rexburg</U> Urban Renewal
Agency<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><![endif]>Hiring a new economic development director at a
cost of $80,000+ to be shared with the City of Moscow (tax dollars funding
both)<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><![endif]>In addition to the economic development
director salary, paying the City of Moscow $30,000+ annually for
administrative services. This is $5,000 more than last year because City
Staff said they need more money to manage the economic development
director. Is this compound “Bureaucracy Gone Wild?”<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The Moscow Urban Renewal Agency Commissioners have the
ability to finalize and close out the Alturas Urban Renewal District by 2010
and return $300,000 annually as a direct reduction on all property tax bills
in Latah County. They have chosen not to do this and instead vote to
continue spending your tax dollars on bureaucracy and to divert funds to the
Legacy Crossing Urban Renewal District, where nothing is
happening.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Perhaps the Moscow URA Commissioners should take a field
trip around Moscow to assess our economic situation. In particular, note
that the national recession is extending to Moscow. There are
layoffs and budget cuts, businesses are not up-staffing and expanding like the
URA; in fact, there have been several business closures and will be
more.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>A $300,000 refund from the Moscow URA would be a welcome
gift to property taxpayers in Moscow and all of Latah County.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>B. J. Swanson<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #4f81bd">From the
Coeur d’Alene Press, Sunday, December 7, 2008:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">LCDC:
Philosophies diverge on finance</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">By
TOM HASSLINGER<BR>Staff writer</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Would
city develop without agency? How much does it really cost taxpayers? Finding
answers depends on who you ask<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Editor's
note: This story is the first in a two-part series on urban renewal and the
Lake City Development Corporation. Tomorrow: Would development blossom without
LCDC?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">COEUR
d'ALENE -- From the outdoor walkway at the Parkside building on Front Avenue
across from McEuen Field, one can see Lake Coeur d'Alene to the southwest,
flanked by Tubbs Hill, the softball fields covering McEuen Field, the new
public library and the brick and stone buildings lining Lake City's
downtown.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">But
the best views from the high-rise can be seen only by those who reside in the
condos, which sit inside Lake City Development Corp.'s urban renewal district
in downtown Coeur d'Alene.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">So
passersby strolling along the park would need keys to access the best
viewpoints, even if a portion of their property taxes went directly to the
urban renewal agency, which pledged $820,000 of taxpayer financing to the
developer for infrastructure and landscaping on the
project.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Proponents
say urban renewal is a recruitment tool used by a resourceful agency whose
sole purpose is to redevelop, beautify and improve a city with enhanced
aesthetics, better economy and more diversified jobs.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"Urban
renewal is a philosophy," said City Finance Director Troy Tymesen. "If you
like development, then you like urban renewal. If you don't like growth, then
you probably won't like it."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">For
others, the mayor-appointed and City Council-approved agency can seem like a
quasi-government, which can spend tax dollars without voter approval, and
agrees to fund private developers for amenities the public will never own --
like high-rise views from Parkside.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Ada
County Commissioner-elect Sharon Ulman called urban renewal spending
"sweetheart deals that the taxpayers are subsidizing."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"How
is that fair?" she said.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">It's
a complicated equation, and it might depend on which philosophy a person
believes.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Urban
renewal financial agreements can sound like back-scratch deals. Officials
contend they are mathematical certainties designed to bring development and
economic perks to a city, which pays back developers from the money their
projects generate without any financial risk to the
taxpayer.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"The
city has so few tools to offer up when we're recruiting businesses," Tymesen
said. "It's really hard to bring in a business based on what we give away
because we don't give away anything."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">The
Riverstone development transformed a 74-acre former mill site into a
work-and-play, mixed-use development along the Spokane River, and the Mill
River development helped land the US Bank Call Center -- and nearly 500 jobs
with it.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Along
with those projects are ones the agency supported for aesthetic perks, such as
$12,000 for maroon banners on Parkside the public will never
own.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">For
fiscal year 2008-09, which runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, LCDC expects to receive
$2.82 million in tax increment financing inside its Lake District and $1.4
million inside its River District.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Those
totals are up from the 2007-08 fiscal year's estimated $3 million total,
according to David McDowell, Kootenai County finance
director.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">During
a slumping economy, the philosophical question about urban renewal becomes
even more pointed than usual. Are urban renewal agencies at all responsible
for increased property taxes for people outside the districts? If the agency
is receiving taxes the cities and counties aren't, are taxpayers picking up
the rest of the slack?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">•••<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">On
Oct. 19, Mary Souza wrote in her Sunday column for the Coeur d'Alene Press
that because of urban renewal, Kootenai County residents are seeing a 4.3
percent hike in their property tax bill, while Coeur d'Alene residents are
getting a 10 percent spike.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Around
the same time, commercial property tax bills around the county were
growing.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Art
Williams, owner of the Flamingo Hotel on Sherman Avenue, was floored by the 55
percent increase on this year's bill.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"When
I saw it, I went nuts," said Williams, whose hotel sits inside LCDC's Lake
District.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Surrounded
by LCDC-aided projects like McEuen Terrace and Sherman Lofts, Williams felt
the agency was raising his taxes even more than Souza had
written.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Itemized
on the assessment was the increment split LCDC was to receive: 60 percent of
his total. A few blocks away soars the condo Williams doesn't have keys to
access.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"They're
using my money they can spend freely," he said. "They're giving it to schools,
the Kroc Center. They can do whatever they want with that money and they
haven't done anything with parking in the downtown, which it desperately
needs."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">The
agency could spend Williams' money, but according to state, city and county
officials, it didn't raise his property taxes: The state of Idaho
did.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"There
are several issues that impact our taxpayers, but urban renewal is not one of
the significant players. Legislative changes routinely dwarf other sources,"
said Kootenai County Assessor Mike McDowell.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Last
year, a change in state legislation prohibited taxing agencies like cities
from claiming new construction growth inside urban renewal districts as their
own growth, which they had done in previous years.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">The
decrease in new growth dollars for the city led to a decrease in what Coeur
d'Alene could calculate as its total valuation -- or overall worth -- which
affected the levy rate taxing entities like the city, county, college and fire
districts set to multiply their taxing share.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">It's
those levies, multiplied by the property tax assessment, which is the property
tax bill. (Urban renewal agencies cannot levy taxes.)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">When
valuations are down, levy rates generally go up, and on a property with equal
or increased valuation, higher levy rates would mean higher
taxes.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">But
a more direct effect on property taxes was a higher homeowner's exemption
legislators enacted at the same time: $100,938 off each owner-occupied house's
taxable valuation -- and off the city's taxable worth.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">That
action spared homeowners greater increases in this year's bill, but shifted
the financial burden on commercial businesses like hotel
owners.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">The
shift in the tax exemption accounted for Coeur d'Alene's depreciation in the
last year, Tymesen said. Meanwhile, the Lake District's total valuation rose
by $80 million, while the River District increased by $65
million.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">But
while the districts appreciated and the city did not, one is not the result of
the other, officials contend.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"Urban
renewal's impact on the taxpayer is nominal," said Alan Dornfest of the Idaho
State Taxing Commission.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"There
are too many moving parts, too many variables to pin rising property taxes on
urban renewal," Tymesen said.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">---------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: #bbbbbb; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Mary
Souza</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
wrote on </SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Dec
7, 2008 9:57 AM:</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"
I don't agree with Troy Tymeson's comment that "If you like development, then
you like urban renewal. If you don't like growth, then you probably won't like
it."<BR><BR>Many pro-business people are unhappy about the way urban renewal
is used here in CdA. Giving tax money to private developers to enhance their
profit levels is not capitalism, it verges on corporate welfare and is
unfairly and unevenly distributed for seemingly arbitrary reasons.<BR><BR>This
creates not only the unnatural "bubble", as Dan described in his comment
below, it is also unfair competition for other businesses that don't receive
urban renewal money. Their taxes are still raised to pay for subsidies to
competitors.<BR><BR>I'm all for good development, done in a smartly managed
way, with developers taking both the risks and the rewards, on their own...the
old-fashioned, American way. "<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: #bbbbbb; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><A
name=18b0a7b06d28c43e2017a1b761e6f9a0></A><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Niles</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
wrote on </SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Dec
7, 2008 9:37 AM:</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"
spenman... The LCDC has taken far more than $4.2 million of our property tax
dollars. That is what they are getting just this year. Last year it was $3.0
million. That is a 140% income growth in one year .... and that is not unlike
previous years. <BR><BR>The portion of property tax money the LCDC gets is the
increment from what properties were paying when the LCDC started some 11 years
ago and what the property taxes are on those properties now. But all new
properties, like those in Riverstone, pay all of their property taxes to the
LCDC because they did not exist when the LCDC started. So as all those new
million dollar homes and businesses are sold the amount of money taken by the
LCDC grows ,,and it does grow dramatically. (BTW developer John Stone doesn't
pay taxes because the Mayor gave him a $3.2 million tax break for his donating
Riverstone Park to the city. I always thought 'donate' meant 'give' not
take.)<BR><BR>The Mayor and the LCDC plan to keep the LCDC open for the
longest time frame allowed by law. They could close parts of it early but they
will not even discuss doing so. The LCDC is slated to continue until 2021. If
the growth continues as is has soon the LCDC will take in more property tax
money than the city does. Already the LCDC has taken 10's of millions. If left
alone they will end up having used 100's of millions of our property tax money
how they decided. <BR><BR>NO public vote on the education corridor. Just some
inside deals a tarnished appraisal and poof $10 million public dollars goes
into Chesrowns pocket. "<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: #bbbbbb; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><A
name=37d71a79d93a68504fc7bc320dca0f52></A><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">richard</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
wrote on </SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Dec
7, 2008 9:32 AM:</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"
The Press asks, " Would development blossom without LCDC?" Nice propaganda
spin on the Press' fave word, development. Development 'blossoms'? How about -
development distorts, blights, ruins? Depends on whose ox is being gored, I
imagine. "<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: #bbbbbb; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><A
name=11526ef67a1c7e35dad3598eb184c644></A><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">spenman</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
wrote on </SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Dec
7, 2008 8:55 AM:</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"
Niles, Dan G, Mary S need to run for office....again. I supported Dan the last
go around but with all the government subsidies going around I think the time
is right. I am willing to go door to door if I have to in support of these
great candidates (potential). Art, please be willing to put signage on your
property( I did ) when we go to battle in two years if your not taxed out of
business.$4.2 million of our tax dollars for a few hundred low paying
jobs....I just don't get it. "<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: #bbbbbb; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><A
name=f123cbf255738c5653cf883e9fef5f68></A><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Dan
Gookin</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
wrote on </SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Dec
7, 2008 8:50 AM:</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"
The LCDC is shifting its raison d'tre from "blight" to "economic development."
Technically, it's a shift from Chapter 20 to Chapter 29 in Title 50 of state
code. But the "economic development" seems limited to construction, not job
opportunities. While they claim the 500 jobs at the US Bank call center,
credit goes 90% to Jobs Plus.<BR><BR>I also take issue with Tymeson's comment
about growth and urban renewal, which demonstrates false logic; being against
the kind of "urban renewal" the LCDC practices doesn't make anyone
anti-growth. Urban renewal irrationally accelerates growth by providing public
money to help developers underwrite cost. That artificially inflates the rate
of growth, which increases property values disproportionally. In other words,
it helps create a growth "bubble" that eventually collapses. To argue that the
LCDC can help this situation means than one fails to see the big picture,
i.e., the good of the community.<BR><BR>The bottom line for me is jobs.
Tymeson and other LCDC supporters claim that urban renewal is "the only"
economic development tool available to cities. Fine. Then use it to attract
career-level jobs. Sadly, the only way I think that's going to happen is when
we replace four members of City government next year. "<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: #bbbbbb; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><A
name=518a7d6eb1f5a590bd2f1940a9ca6f3f></A><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">justme</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
wrote on </SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Dec
7, 2008 7:57 AM:</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"
I have to agree with Niles! "<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: #bbbbbb; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><A
name=38d11d157eb140e53ffbf2812d624d39></A><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Niles</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
wrote on </SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Dec
7, 2008 7:08 AM:</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 140%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">"
Okay Dan here are the numbers you asked for. The total property taxes
anticipated going to the city for 2008/2009 are just over $14 million. This
comes from the 2008/2009 budget posted on their website. The incremental
property tax income total going to the LCDC for the same fiscal year is $4.22
million. That means the total property tax income is around $18.22 million of
which $4.22 million goes to the LCDC. The LCDC is skimming 23% of the city
property tax revenues for its private usage.<BR><BR>23% of Coeur d"Alenes
property taxes directly to the LCDC to use without any public vote and little
or no public input. Taxation without representation. Adding insult to injury
the city raises all of our property taxes to help make up for this lost
revenue. We pay extra so that the LCDC can give out money to their developer
buddies. Chesrown is about to get handed a $10 million sweetheart deal for
property valued at the peak of the market by a boldly biased appraisal. That
is our money getting stuffed into Chesrowns pockets.<BR><BR>Where is the
blight Mayor? Close down the LCDC. Return those tax revenues back to where
they serve the citizens who pay them and not your developer friends. Where's
the blight Mayor? Where? "<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
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