Where are the Reporters

Where in the country can you go where the supposidly "free" press doesn't ask questions or investigate municiple spending? Short answer, Nampa! Neither the Idaho Press Tribune, the Idaho Statesmen or the Idaho Business Review have reported on, or investigated the merits of the City of Nampa's proposed plan for renovating downtown Nampa. The proposed legacy projects are going to require over $100 million in City tax dollars to pay for a Library, Police Station, Park and a City Hall. Yes, that's right, City Hall. The City Hall isn't part of the identified Urban Renewal Projects, but neither is the park, but who's counting! The City has publically stated that their consultant says that if the City spends over $100 million in downtown, then private investors will spend over $360 million. The City has already purchase property for this plan from general fund reserve funds because the consultant says its the best thing to do while they wait to see if a judge will allow for them to bond for $15.5 million. Again, the $15.5 million doesn't build a brick, it just buys land and pays for more consulting fees. The City last reported that they thought they might have enough tax increment from the urban renewal in 2011 to build the police station and 2013 for the library. Well, I hope they have redone their TIF calculations because as the real estate market continues to drag prices down, eventually the price reductions are going to show up in the form of less assessed values and less taxes.

Again, where are the reporters. There are plenty of questions, and the City isn't answering. Seriously, how much have the spent to date just on consulting fees? How many more finance directors does the mayor have to drive away until he gets one that can make up the numbers he wants. Where is that great group of consultants the City has already paid? Come on reporters, get with it. This is going to be a big story, you should get in on it first!