Advisory vote would only further divide us

The idea of a countywide public advisory vote on the Health Corridor Urban Renewal District clearly has its supporters.

But the timing is off, and the only possible impacts would improve nothing.

Kootenai County Treasurer Steve Matheson is lobbying hard for county commissioners Bill Brooks, Chris Fillios and Leslie Duncan to ask voters to weigh in on the urban renewal-powered Health Corridor in Coeur d’Alene. With commissioner consent, the non-binding question would be on the primary election ballot May 19, almost six months after the Coeur d’Alene City Council approved the corridor by a 5-1 vote.

Here’s a working draft of Matheson’s proposed ballot question:

Do you support the City of Coeur d’Alene Council Bill No. 19-1018, an ordinance approving the urban renewal plan for the Health Corridor Urban Renewal Project, which plan includes revenue allocation financing provisions?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

That the public would be asked its opinion of urban renewal is something of a challenge at any time. Matheson acknowledges that it’s not a broadly understood subject. That’s not to insult anyone’s intelligence; some bright people are fairly clueless about how tax increment financing works.

Matheson says the city is not too far down the Health Corridor-creation road to re-examine its decision, particularly if, as most expect, a strong majority of people would vote “no” on the question. But the timing is at best curious.

Pushing for it now puts Fillios and Brooks, both seeking re-election, in a tough spot. If they don’t agree to place the question before voters, their opponents in the primary can accuse them of depriving people of their voice. If they do put it on the ballot, then what? They’re powerless to do anything about it. Coeur d’Alene’s decision falls squarely in line with state laws on creating urban renewal districts.

Some have accused Matheson of sour grapes, contending he has an ax to grind after failing in his election bid last year for a trustee seat on Kootenai Hospital District’s board. That seems a stretch — and a point Matheson ardently refutes.

Another theory is that Matheson would like to see Kootenai Health sold to the highest bidder, a phenomenon that’s playing out nationally as large hospital chains scoop up smaller operators. The health corridor would strengthen the hospital’s position, making it less likely to hit the market. The motivation for the county treasurer to want KH to sell, this theory goes, is that many millions of dollars of profit from the sale would flow right into the county’s pocket — a treasurer’s delight.

All speculation aside, Matheson is doing what he believes is his fiduciary duty. However, that doesn’t make his proposal right.

URD opponents are picking on the wrong targets. It is not Kootenai Health, the City of Coeur d’Alene or even the citizens of Kootenai County they should be lobbying. The Idaho Legislature fashions the state’s urban renewal laws, so that’s where calls for change should be directed. Missing that target fuels only division and unhealthy conjecture.