TAXES: Assessing real blame

I’m a budget hawk, having never voted for a property tax increase. Yet, I believe your Jan. 29 Editorial, “Time to put property tax hikes on ice,” misses the mark.

First, most important to me is local control. It’s ironic we send Republican legislators to the capitol who decry a strong central government in Washington, D.C., but argue for a stronger central government for Idaho. If the public wants budget hawks in local office, they have an opportunity every year to vote for them. We don’t need the Legislature dictating to local governments more than they already do; removing budgetary oversight statewide is an abuse of power.

Second, the property tax equation is more than the 3% maximum increase. One of the proposals eliminates new growth from the budget, which means our accelerated growth won’t pay for itself. The proposals ignore the Legislature-imposed cap on the homeowner’s deduction. And they don’t address the most egregious variable, the property assessment. It’s the assessment that causes unpleasant increases more than the 3% max many local agencies take.

Finally, if the public wants to help, they can show up to the budget hearings. The dates and times are well-known and consistent year-to-year. Yet in the eight years I’ve been in office, few if any taxpayers bother to appear. Imagine the changes at the local level if the public would pay attention and be involved?

DAN GOOKIN

Coeur d’Alene