If state and national elections don't draw Ketchum voters to the polls this November, a $1.5 million expenditure of city money might.
Ketchum officials are considering a bond vote to replace four pieces of major equipment: two snow blowers dating from 1957 and 1985, a 1988 grader and a 1985 loader.
The usual manner of buying such items, lease-purchase agreements, were rendered illegal following a recent Idaho Supreme Court decision, City of Boise v. David Frazier. In that ruling, the court said municipalities cannot go into debt without voter approval, unless the purchase is both ordinary and necessary.
Ketchum City Attorney Ben Worst took that to mean lease-purchase agreements are no longer a viable method of securing equipment.
"You don't want to operate a snow blower that was born the same year I was," Council President Baird Gourlay said during a meeting Tuesday, Sept. 5.
The general obligation bond would have to be approved by two-thirds of voters.
Typically, a bond vote allows a city to raise taxes.
In this instance, the city would instead borrow money that is tucked away in its own debt services account.
"This council has no intention of raising the mil levy," Gourlay said.
That doesn't mean other councils would be bound by that, however.
"A council cannot obligate a future council," said City Administrator Ron LeBlanc. "A future council could raise the mil rate."
The council will consider a resolution Sept. 18 to put the issue to ballot.
The election is Nov. 7.
