Residents lose with plans for new taxing agency

Wheather or not the building height increase is passed, the taxpayers are losers.

Not because Panhandle State Bank wants to build this structure, but in spite of one argument in its favor: it'll help reduce or stabilize the taxes for the rest of us. The city wants to initiate another useless government agency, an urban renewal department of all things. Oh, it won't raise our taxes, but will operate on taxes gleaned from new building, Poof! there goes our tax break.

Speaking of new building and totally worthless agencies, the proposed re-establishment of a building department. From what I gather, a building permit would be more than $1,000, but if anything goes wrong, oh, the building department has no responsibility. Then what use are they? To exist so they can tax, so they can exist, so they can charge fees, so they can exist, so that they, like the Panhandle Health District can't be held accountable when a septic system fails that they issued a $400-plus permit for?

Finally, the news from a few days ago. The state has cut $330,000 in funding from the LPOSD after the majority passed a "desperately needed" $6.4 million levy. This in spite of Boise reporting a $20 million increase in tax collection over last years and is giving all state employees a bonus.

The government: a "dunsil" — something or someone that serves no useful purpose.

LAWRENCE FURY

Sandpoint