Friday, March 30, 2012

URAs do more harm than good


All of the projects cited in your recent urban renewal editorial (March 2) could have been completed within the existing authority of the city with a simple bond election approved by citizens. As it sits, taxes on any improvements or appreciated value within the urban renewal district are diverted away from police, fire, the county and schools for up to 24 years. Jerry Brown and the California Legislature have recently eliminated all urban renewal projects, opting for more logical and honest ways to address urban decay and expansion.

As for local option taxes, the sticking point is the two-thirds voter threshold and allowing citizens the option to determine how the new-found cash would be spent. The two-thirds approval is not unreasonable, especially in a community where a huge portion of property owners have no right to vote.

David Frazier

Boise




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