[Vision2020] Moscow residents could see 11 percent tax hike

[Gary Crabtree]

OK, that said what is Lamar and Bettage's position on the tax increase?

g


On Sat, Aug 16, 2014 at 10:11 AM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:

> No, Mr. Dredge.
>
> People have a right to know what their city council is doing.
>
> Stick 'round, though.  This is only the beginning.
>
> FYI, Mr. Dredge . . .
>
> Tom Lamar and Art Bettge are NOT of the "same political stripe" as Walter
> Steed, Wayne Krauss, Dan Carscallen, and John Weber.  Thank God!
>
> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
> "Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
> http://www.MoscowCares.com <http://www.moscowcares.com/>
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "There's room at the top they are telling you still.
> But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
> If you want to be like the folks on the hill."
>
> - John Lennon
>
>
> On Aug 16, 2014, at 9:57 AM, Scott Dredge <scooterd408 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> <DELETE>
>
> Jus' a suggestion, Mr. Hansen, if you should EVER disagree with the
> opinion and political stripe of those on the Moscow city council.  OK???
>
> ------------------------------
> From: thansen at moscow.com
> Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 09:35:16 -0700
> To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: [Vision2020] Moscow residents could see 11 percent tax hike
>
> Ah, yes.  Welcome to Moscow . . . home of stagnant wages and increased
> taxes, courtesy of Mayor Bill Lambert and council members Walter Steed,
> Wayne Krauss, Dan Carscallen, Art Bettge, Tom Lamar, and John Weber.
>
> They certainly didn't have this much trouble increasing their cell-phone
> stipend, huh?
>
> Courtesy of today's (August 16, 2014) Lewiston Tribune.
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Moscow residents could see 11 percent tax hike
>
> MOSCOW - Moscow residents could see an 11 percent hike in their property
> taxes next year if the city's proposed budget is approved Monday.
>
> The latest version of the proposed $59.7 million 2015 budget includes
> collection of about $371,000 in foregone property taxes, plus an allowed
> annual 3 percent bump in the property tax levy. Moscow Finance Director Don
> Palmer said about $216,000 was added to the total foregone amount this
> month to cover the city's share in the cost to realign the Pullman-Moscow
> Regional Airport runway. The airport project could approach $90 million,
> but would be funded primarily with federal money.
>
> Councilor Walter Steed said Friday that he is not a fan of increasing or
> taking foregone property taxes, but is unsure of any other way to fill the
> budget's gaps.
>
> A public hearing on the budget is scheduled during the city council
> meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in Moscow City Hall. The council will consider
> approval of the proposed budget following the hearing.
>
> Steed said he would really like to have Moscow residents attend the public
> hearing to provide the council with feedback on the proposed budget before
> it is approved.
>
> Of the total proposed foregone amount - or property taxes from previous
> years when a 3 percent increase wasn't taken by the city - $216,705 would
> go to the runway realignment and $154,365 would be to replace federal
> funding for two police officer positions. The police positions have been
> funded for the past three years with a federal Community Oriented Policing
> Services grant.
>
> State law allows municipalities to take up to a 3 percent increase in
> property taxes each year. This year's proposed 3 percent annual hike would
> generate about $139,000 and - when combined with the proposed hike of
> approximately 8 percent in foregone taxes - would be about a $55 annual
> increase in tax payments for owners of a $200,000 home.
>
> Palmer said the proposed budget was adjusted earlier this month to
> represent the total foregone property tax increase of 8.25 percent. He said
> the proposed foregone amount would result in about $100,000 in unused taxes
> remaining that the city could go back and collect on at any time.
>
> Steed said increasing the foregone taxes collected was the only option in
> funding the runway realignment that was presented to the council -
> something he said a lot of people feel is necessary. He also didn't know
> how else the city could continue to fund the two police officer positions
> without the foregone taxes.
>
> "These are the options that were presented to us," Steed said. "I am
> unaware of any other options. I'm not particularly happy with the plan, but
> am unsure of how to achieve the goal other than with what has been
> presented."
>
> The city's next budget year begins Oct. 1.
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
> "Moscow Cares"
> http://www.MoscowCares.com <http://www.moscowcares.com/>
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
>
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