PROPOSAL: Bad idea, and illegal

I am hopeful that Commissioner Tondee will see to it that the board does indeed get a good analysis of the proposal to create a citizen panel to hold hearings on appeals of commercial and private property valuations. I don't think it is a very good idea.

The commissioners will be nothing more than a rubber stamp for the recommendation of the hired experts. How could they be anything else? The whole purpose is to get the commissioners out of the tiresome loop of getting facts.

Commissioner Nelson says the cost is justified because then they can spend that time doing more governing, doing their duties. I'm not comfortable with that kind of reasoning.

Probably most important is the question of legality. The statutes say the commissioners shall meet as a board of equalization. I don't read that as giving them the option of having others do the research and findings which is part of the job of equalization of property values.

GARY INGRAM

Coeur d'Alene