MY TURN: Vote against open-ended open space bond
As a long term multi-generational Idaho resident, I like open space. Idaho has large ownerships of state and federal lands, and the large amounts of open space and public ownership restrict our economic base and are the envy of many states.
Kootenai County has about 842,000 acres, and 363,000 acres of public lands or 43% of the land area. Lots of open space. This public land decreases our tax base, and increases the property tax burden. In addition, there are about 45,000 acres of open space water.
The Open Space Bond is a blank check for unknown projects, in undisclosed locations, at unknown costs. That is bad public policy. The Kootenai County Commissioners have recently demonstrated their malfeasance by launching and authorizing a Justice Building project when they didn’t even know the cost, or have funds for the building costs. Giving these County Commissioners unrestricted spending authority for $50 million is like giving teenagers matches gasoline, alcohol, and the car keys.
Where is the open space that is so desperately needed? General information about the bond says it is on the Rathdrum Prairie. The lands on the prairie outside of Post Falls, Rathdrum, and Hayden are under county jurisdiction, county zoning, and areas of city impact agreements [ACI]. The county can keep open space and minimize taxpayer costs by simply keeping agricultural zoning restrictions in these areas. Farming and forestry are the best ‘open space’ land uses, and Kootenai County currently has such power. The police power to zone in Kootenai County allows the county to control these lands at no taxpayer costs.
The ”Open Space” Bond is not just for open space. The bond authorization states the bond is for public open space land and/or easements for scenic or recreational purposes, and development for public uses. That is vague and really open-ended authority for $50 million. What is development for public uses? New office buildings? Who benefits from the scenic easements? Where are the recreational open space and scenic easements located that justify public funds to benefit nearby private property owners? When scenic and recreational easements are acquired, there is usually a commensurate property value enhancement to the benefitted property in the viewshed. Who gets these benefits; and who decides what views will be bestowed upon what property owners? What lands are to be purchased and at what prices? Kootenai County has no staff qualified or experienced to manage and administer such a subsidy program, and it would be fraught with crony politics and fiscal incompetence. Further, the bond authorizes ‘development for public use’ which is also a blank check for undisclosed buildings and improvements. This is a vague, ambiguous and un-needed bond and bad public policy.
Kootenai County has an affordable housing crisis. We are short of about 2,000 housing units and need affordable housing. The sponsors of this bond are ignorant of the supply and demand effects of spending $50 million for potential development lands, decreasing the supply of land inventory when the community needs more affordable housing. This bond, if passed will have the unintended consequences of decreasing available housing lands at taxpayer expense, and making the housing shortage more acute.
I like open space, but this bond authorization is a blank check. Vote no on the open space bond.
Ed Morse is a resident of Hayden.