IP article 4-8-22 “West Ada outlines need for 8 additional schools”
This is a problem for the Legislature to resolve and frankly is simple mathematics. The Concerned Citizens of Canyon County Committee, during the past three years has been urging the legislature to give school districts the ability to use impact fees for new school construction. With each new home comes kids under 18. Meridian’s population by U.S. census is estimated at 117,635. Of that 33,173 are under 18 and 22,115 are school age. For 1,000 new homes there are 2,820 new citizens with 530 school age children, one-fifth of the students in the new $70 Million school. The cost, $28,000 per student.
The cost of the schools required by growth is multiplied by the new population and paid by bonds, the cost of which is paid by property tax and the existing property taxpayers pay the bill for the new schools they do not need. If the legislature would simply amend IC 67-8203 (24) public facilities by adding (g) public schools. The problem would be solved. Then when building permits are issued that share of the cost of the new needed future schools would be part of the impact fee on new construction.
Note: impact fees are paid initially by the developer and become part of the final sale value of the home or business. They are no more than a temporary cost to the builder as is the cost of the material and labor to construct the home. They are simply a part of the sales price, and those fees will be isolated and utilized to pay for the cost of the new school buildings.
One cost solution to exceedingly expensive school buildings would be for Idaho’s legislature to accept a standard design for elementary, Middle, and High Schools which could be adapted to and for the anticipated school population. This would provide the proper facilities for a school at a minimum of cost.
When you go to the polls in the May 17th primary, remember, this issue has been before the legislature for 3 years and none of the present legislators acted on this.
One reply on “Op-Ed: Who will pay for eight new West Ada Schools?”
Idaho’s Forced Annexation law nullifies taxpayer’s property & voting rights & allows the powerful development industry Lobby Cartel to evade paying appropriate Impact Fees & pass those huge costs off onto backs of all taxpayers.
Citizen’s For Annexation Reform spent years & several failed attempts to pass reform legislation that would have restored citizen’s individual property & voting rights. This reform legislation would have halted uncontrolled growth by placing appropriate Impact Fees on Developer’s private business ventures.
AMERICA FACING A ONE-SOLUTION CONSTITUTIONAL CROSSROADS;
Idaho is not the only state that is impacted by political conflict of interest corruption.
Years of annexation reform research showed that a large percentage of Idaho’s & our nation’s legislators & public officials are part of or were elected by the powerful Cartel of Industry & Development Industry Lobbyists.
AMERICAS’ REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IS 100% RELIANT ON CITIZENS WHO WILL ASSUME THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL & CIVIC OBLIGATION TO ENFORCE OATH OF OFFICE CONTRACTS BY PROMPTLY OUSTING ROGUE PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO’S RECORDS OR ACTIONS VALIDATE ABSOLUTE EVIDENCE OF BETRAYAL OR TREASON.
President Trump’s 1st term initiated the process of flushing America’s political toilets. Where were Americas’ patriotic conservatives hiding ?
Chuck Thomas
Former board member Citizens For Annexation Reform.