Assessor's attitude is a breath of fresh air

I am moved once again to respond to a letter in the Daily Bee (July 29) written by our new assessor, Jerry Clemons.

The tone and theme in Jerry's letter is like a fresh breeze. For the most part, people in our STOP organization (Sensible Taxation of Property) who have called me have recognized that the assessor is wearing a new pleasant face.

However, a battle is still ahead for taxpayers. Jerry has placed his finger on the trigger in the Idaho Tax Code that needs to be changed. STOP favors rewriting the Idaho Constitution to cap yearly assessment increases at one or two percent. Gov. Butch Otter has stated in a recent radio interview that he will urge the Legislature to submit to him a reworked property tax code that has elements of California's Prop. 13. One goal being to take the guesswork out of our yearly assessment.

It's common knowledge that property taxes have gone up around Boise. It's tough to applaud someone else's misery but, if that information is correct, we can all smile with hope. Let's keep our eyes on the governor and Legislature and see if this turns into smoke and mirrors again.

In the meantime, the assessor's office is no longer growling … it's beginning to purr.

BOB CHENAULT,

STOP president

Sandpoint