Officials must provide facts for urban renewal district

A city of Sandpoint employee recently said to a citizen, "Anybody who opposes urban renewal districts is ignorant." This statement makes an important point. We are ignorant, and it is the responsibility of the city to fix that before a vote is taken on an urban renewal district.

What we do understand is that an urban renewal district increases future property taxes for everyone in the city outside the district because those inside the district do not contribute more to the city as their property appreciates. Instead, those inside the district pay their increased taxes to retire debt for improvements inside the district.

Here's information I want: What exactly are the boundaries of the proposed district? What improvements are planned for that district — their description, scope and cost? What other funding sources have been explored? How much tax revenue is expected to pay for the improvements? When? Who pays if there is a shortfall? Can the urban renewal board (appointed) add future projects to the district or must it dissolve when the current plan is completed? About the board: how many people, their terms, compensation or budget? How will appointments be made? Rumor has it that Mayor Ray Miller is recruiting for the board. Will Sandpointers be invited to apply? If so, how publicly?

Do the school district, library and county lose future tax revenues as long as the district is paying off its debt?

Ignorance is a temporary condition and the city can fix it! Let's have a public workshop with a full presentation of the proposal.

MOLLY O'REILLY

Sandpoint