Open space levy

With the rafting season behind us and fishing in full swing, I find myself reflecting on how we came to have such an incredible resource flowing through our downtown. Of course, I’m talking about the Boise River. The Boise is a gem in the crown of our capital city and is a big part of what makes this area so special.

For AIRE (boat building), proximity to the Boise is a reason we decided to locate in the Treasure Valley, and it’s not just AIRE that has found a home here. There are more than 77,000 Idaho jobs thanks to outdoor recreation, many of those in Boise.

Tuesday voters have an opportunity to continue a Boise legacy. The Clean Water & Open Space levy would create a fund to protect clean water at a cost of $3 per month over two years. A similar measure was passed in 2001. Since then, over 10,000 acres of foothills have been protected for recreation. That fund is nearly dry, we have a chance to refresh it and this time around funds can go to projects along the Boise. That’s why I plan to vote “Yes” for The Clean Water & Open Space Levy.

This story was originally published October 28, 2015 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Open space levy."