Boise shouldn’t need a levy for parks. Taxes are high enough | Opinion

Boise’s priorities backwards

The city of Boise seems to have things backwards. The city is planning to run a tax levy to pay for parks and is considering levies for police and fire as well. This on top of the contract dispute between the police union and the city. It seems like the city leaders are forgetting that police, fire and parks are the core services taxpaying city residents expect for the property taxes they pay. The city seems to have no problem finding monies for low-income and homeless housing as well as other pet projects of the mayor and council. Perhaps these leaders should consider meeting all the police, fire and parks needs out of the general budget before their social projects. If they feel strongly about these extras, then run a levy to pay for these type of projects and see if the voters agree that it’s something they want to pay for in increased property taxes.

Rob Stark, Boise

Give me immigrants, not extremists

Never have I ever felt threatened or harmed by refugees or immigrants. Daily I feel threatened by the extremist White House administration and its attacks on our rights. Never have immigrants tried to tell me what I have to think, or believe, or that I have to accept treating so many others with blatant cruelty.

Immigrants have never punished me, my family or friends, economically or personally for disagreeing with authoritarian tactics and oppression like we see from the Trump regime. Feeling threatened daily by propaganda, wealthy oligarchs and politicians in control of our lives is unacceptable. Let’s vote them all out while we can still vote.

Sheila Robbins, Boise

Chip sealing is a mistake

We know it’s summer when ACHD slathers tar and gravel on perfectly good paved roads, which wrecks them long-term for cars, motorcycles and bicycles alike. What is their unhealthy fascination with this? Someone please tell them not to, and if high income, sales and property taxes aren’t enough to repave the roads, then perhaps the funds are mismanaged

Brook Garrettson, Eagle

The real problem is corporate socialism

One thing that I noticed once I moved to a Republican district is how they rant and rave about socialism. Yet, they are in reality the biggest support of welfare for the rich. After all, why don’t we have a tax on the sales of stocks and bonds and all the other sales on Wall Street? Why should the average taxpayers have to have their tax dollar to support the FAA, why don’t they just put an extra charge on every ticket and every person who owns a plane? Why should the people that don’t fly but maybe once in a lifetime have to support these major corporations?

Why don’t we have a tax on every lending institution, that would then fund the Consumer Protection Bureau.

So it appears in reality, you Republicans love socialism when it guarantees the income of the rich and powerful.

Now, why is it that with all these tax cuts to the billionaires and millionaires, nothing was put in the bill that stated that if you don’t start investing in America, we raise your taxes to 90% and the government starts investing in the products that we are importing?

Jerry Johnson, Payette

Stop raising taxes

On July 15, the Boise City Council passed the budget with a 4% property tax hike, ignoring taxpayers’ burdens. As one of only four dissenters, I was horrified by speakers praising the council and Mayor Lauren McLean while ignoring fiscal recklessness.

The budget projects general fund revenue at $331.3 million, up 38.8% since fiscal year 2021, outpacing inflation (22%) and population growth (6.3%). Property taxes, up 26.2%, strain residents without a clear justification. Enterprise funds surge 108.3%, driven by airport expansion, prioritizing one project over public safety or housing.

Staffing will rise 16.2% to 2,133, 2.6 times the population growth. The new Department of Organizational Effectiveness like vagueness, adds costs without clear purpose. A $1.24 million carry-forward balance leaves no fiscal cushion.

The council’s dismissal of these concerns, amid blind praise from most speakers, erodes trust. Boiseans deserve transparency on volatile revenues (e.g., 300.8% “Other Revenue” spike) and staffing. We’re not an ATM. The council must align spending with inflation, prioritize essential services, and respect taxpayers. Demand accountability now.

Lynn Bradescu, Boise

Protect solar development in Ada

As a lifelong landowner in Ada County, I am deeply concerned by the P&Z Board’s recent recommendation to effectively ban utility-scale solar development. The County Commissioners will weigh this recommendation on July 30, and I urge them to reject it.

Solar energy development does not mean the end of agriculture. In fact, it can strengthen it.

Much of the land proposed for solar in Ada County has historically been used for sheep grazing. That tradition doesn’t have to end. Many modern solar projects are designed for dual use, allowing sheep to graze between and beneath the panels. It’s a win-win: clean energy production and continued agricultural use on the same land.

This approach ensures that land like mine retains its agricultural designation, avoids suburban sprawl, and continues contributing to Idaho’s ranching heritage — all while supporting a more diversified rural economy. A solar ban, by contrast, would encourage exactly the kinds of developments that do permanently erase agricultural land: housing subdivisions and industrial sprawl.

Idaho has always valued private property rights and productive land use. I hope my neighbors and local leaders will see this for what it is: not a threat to rural Idaho, but an opportunity to protect it.

Cindy Roberts, Boise