EDITORIAL: Prairie proposal is a critical game of thirds

Three cheers for the Board of Kootenai County Commissioners, who are doing their part to preserve priceless prairie land.

But that’s just one-third of the equation. Voters — and two-thirds of them will need to approve the proposal in November — will also need to sign on the dotted line.

That leaves the other third: Prairie property owners, who should be asked to sell acreage below what that land might fetch from developers.

County commissioners are putting a $50 million bond issue on the Nov. 7 ballot. That money is intended to purchase land on the Rathdrum Prairie and, perhaps, other spots within the county. The purpose is to not only preserve our disappearing open spaces, but to make them accessible to the very public that will be paying for them.

Why this isn’t just a feel-good plan that’ll be easy on nature-loving eyeballs goes much deeper. Literally.

Beneath those fields is the region’s sole source of drinking water, the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. With respect to the conscientious developers who have been responsibly meeting the needs of a burgeoning population, growth of any kind above that aquifer poses threats to everyone’s ability to live here. Preservation isn’t a luxury; it’s perhaps as important as the air we breathe.

Nobody knows how much land can actually be bought with $50 million, so the proposal is a gamble for property taxpayers. But it’s a gamble worth serious consideration.

The best estimate available now is that someone who owns a $500,000 home would be on the hook for about $30 a year. That’s $2.50 a month for those who are counting, and the amount might actually decrease over time because population growth expands the tax base.

If approved, the $50 million will also provide some recreational amenities like trails, play areas and space for farmers markets. How much dirt that money can buy is the $50 million question, with one county official roughly guessing 333 acres.

Commissioner Bruce Mattare is already planting a seed with potential sellers, one that could grow like the bluegrass that once blanketed much of that land:

“We hope we can find people who want to see the open spaces preserved,” he said. “Obviously we would be very receptive to people who wanted to work out arrangements with the county where we could buy the land and work with those people.”

A unique opportunity lies ahead. Find out more: www.kcbondinfo.com.