TAXES: Thank GOP legislators

In a recent CDA Press article, Rep. Jim Addis attributed Idaho’s rising property tax crisis to “local spending.” In reality, it is GOP state legislators, like Addis, who created the property tax crisis through reckless policy at the state level and are now scapegoating city and county governments.

It was GOP legislators who terminated the indexed homeowners exemption and blocked local governments from accessing their share of internet sales tax, forcing increases in property tax. They severely underfunded public education, with lowest per-student education investment in the nation, forcing bonds and levies that drive up already high property taxes.

They blocked every bill that would have allowed meaningful relief, like capping assessment increases, restoring the indexed exemption, treating internet sales tax the same as regular sales tax, and increasing property tax relief for low-income seniors and veterans. And they chose to allocate hundreds of millions in surplus dollars to income tax cuts for the wealthy rather than property tax relief for working Idahoans.

Now that their policies have driven property taxpayers to breaking point, rather than admit to having caused the problem, these legislators are trying to force local officials who are already operating on tight budgets to make cuts to essential services, like police, firefighters, and paramedics.

Let’s elect representatives who work to solve problems like skyrocketing property taxes, not create new ones by undermining vital local services. Put party aside next November and vote for a candidate who will work in earnest to lower your property taxes.

TERESA BORRENPOHL

Post Falls