Hayden voters, reject this tax increase
While city officials have recently recanted their desire to pass this legislation, it is still on the ballot. We encourage you to vote no on Nov. 6. We also encourage you to read the following information as this issue will most likely be coming to voters again.
We are a group of concerned citizens who reside in Hayden. We are informed and educated. We are reaching out to you because of our worries about a proposed 117 percent tax increase in city taxes. The city would have you believe that there is a great need to make the increase to protect our citizens and repair our roads. Here are the facts about those two “needs”:
Since 2010, accidents in Hayden have increased by eight a month, citations have decreased by 25 a month, and arrests have increased by three a month. Additionally, patrol hours in that same time frame have increased by 371 hours per month, detective hours have decreased by 176 hours per month, and the number of calls has increased by 261 calls per month. Our group feels that the need for law enforcement is being adequately met and does not require additional $653,000 to protect our citizens.
The city of Hayden has 159 miles of road to maintain. Thirteen percent of those road miles are in the Hayden Urban Renewal District, which has adequate funds to repair and upgrade those roads. The Pavement Condition Index (PCI) for Hayden roads is 85. As a rule of thumb, the higher the PCI, the better condition the road is in. The city of Coeur d’Alene has 520 road miles to maintain and has a PCI of 62. We feel that the city of Hayden does not need an additional $980,000 to repair and maintain the roads.
The city of Hayden has compared its property tax rate to other cities in the area. Their comparison is an apple to orange comparison as the services provided by each city are not the same. Hayden does not have its own police force, as they are covered by Kootenai County Sheriff deputies, who are not solely dedicated to remaining in the city. The city does not provide water. Sewer is billed through the city, but the sewer is provided by Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board (HARSB). It is vital to compare like services when comparing tax rates to get the real picture.
Furthermore, the wording on the ballot measure does not in any way bind the city leaders to use the funds as stated. “General road and law enforcement needs” is ambiguous. Funds may be used the first year of the tax increase as city leaders have proposed, but this code is not written to bind them from using those funds in different ways in the future. And, in perpetuity the base tax rate has been increased and the city is still able to apply a 3 percent a year increase to that base budget, as provided by current state statute, without a vote of the people.
As a group we do not oppose a reasonable tax increase to maintain the current level of service for Hayden residents. We value street lights, street maintenance, snow plowing, parks, bike paths, recreation opportunities for youths and adults, solid planning and code enforcement for building, historic preservation, and strong leadership in the city.
We encourage city leaders to rethink this drastic tax increase they have slated for items we do not deem necessary. We encourage them to put together a reasonable increase that covers and maintains all the services at current levels. Until then, we are taking the strong stance that this tax increase needs to be voted down.
JEFF SMITH
NANCY TAYLOR LOWERY
RONDA MITCHELL
MICHAEL LOWERY