GROWTH: Who pays for it?

Mr. Nate Konkol in his letter of Sept. 23 states that it’s “it’s the current residents/long time residents who pay the bill” for the infrastructure improvements that are required to accommodate growth. The population of Cd’A in 1900 was 500. Today’s population is 57,000. I doubt if Mr. Konkol was one of the first here. Most likely he came later and when it was his time to take his adult place in society and move into his own residence, guess who paid for the infrastructure necessary to accommodate him. The “current/long term residents?” Every person on this planet has contributed to the growth in population and, if necessary, helps pay for the infrastructure necessary to accommodate us, including you Mr. Konkol.

Everywhere I’ve lived, when a residential development is constructed the developer pays for streets, sidewalks, sewers, water, natural gas, electricity, street lighting and substantial water and sewer hook up fees, permitting fees and permit inspection fees. Often in their permitting fees will be impact fees for schools, parks, police and fire dept. Sometimes there is a traffic mitigation fee to help with off-site traffic impacts. All these costs are passed on to the eventual buyer of a home. So what infrastructure are existing folks paying for?

A high percentage of people moving here are retired. They didn’t come here looking to take someone’s job. They didn’t  bring children to populate the schools. They don’t use the justice system or social service system. They came here with their portable income and pay taxes and spend their money that employs locals. Seems to me it is one of the reasons your taxes are so low. A group you should be encouraging to move here. They pay in and don’t take out.

JERRY FORELL

Hayden Lake