It has come to the attention of NWPOA that an ADVISORY VOTE IS NEEDED! Our County Treasurer Steve Matheson is asking for an advisory vote by Kootenai County residents on the issue of the extreme costs of the new Hospital District Urban Renewal just voted in by the city of Coeur d'Alene. His main concern is about the growing costs to taxpayers. NWPOA has reached out to our Commissioners and recieved support for this from Leslie Duncan but not from Chris Fillios or Bill Brooks, we need 2 in favor to put it on the Ballot by early March. Here are some facts on the issue: 1) What an Urban Renewal District does is freeze in time the growth of taxes and diverts that growth to it's pet projects. This leaves the taxing districts to raise taxes, to make up for the loss. Our taxes are increasing so that an unelected board can spend taxpayer money as they wish... 2) Now that the Health Corridor is an Urban Renewal District, it brings to 12 the number of active Urban renewal districts in our County, paid for by ALL COUNTY RESIDENTS ! Over the 20 year life of the Health Corridor 46 Million dollars will be diverted. 14 Million from the County Budget 4.5 Million from the NIC Budget 25 Million from CDA Budget 2.5 Million from PF Highway District .75 Million from KCEMSS There will be 300 Million in private development bringing 256,000 sq ft of medical space, 158,000 sq ft of retail/commercial space, two hotels, 750 APARTMENTS and 200 townhomes into the Hospital Corridor enveloping Highway 95. Plus a 100 Million dollar hospital expansion of bed tower, medical office space and parking. 45 million dollars will also come from developers, city, federal, and the state department of transportation. Elected officials will say "don't we want a good hospital "? Well, we have good hospitals already, this is for a DESTINATION MAYO CLINIC THAT THEY WANT US TO PAY FOR! NWPOA says finance it through the private sector and leave the taxpayers alone, our property taxes are HIGH ENOUGH ALREADY! IN 2019 approximately 15.6 Million dollars were diverted from our services and distributed to the Urban renewal Districts scattered through Kootenai county in various cities. Kootenai County's lost revenues are 3.5 MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY ! NWPOA believes Idaho should stop or strongly limit the use of the Urban Renewal District. The City of Post Falls is considering a HUGE Urban Renewal District enveloping its whole city center. We are asking the citizens of Kootenai County to let your voices be heard! CALL THE COMMISSIONERS OFFICE AT 208 446-1600. Email Commissioner Fillios - cfillios@kcgov.us Email Commissioner Brooks - bbrooks@kcgov.us They need to hear from you by February 17th. Let them know that they need to 2nd Commissioner Duncan's motion for an advisory vote on Urban Renewal Districts! The Advisory Vote does not stop the Urban Renewal Districts from happening but it puts our Mayors and other elected officials on notice that we are tired of taxpayer abuse and we don't want to take it anymore! Almost all of the City Mayors are against this advisory vote...they are not looking out for us taxpayers!
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