WHAT IS A RADICAL?

As I meet with people in this community on my campaign for Boundary County Commissioner for 2010, it has been brought to my attention that there are those that are labeling me as a "radical." Since that gave me pause to consider, I decided to analyze this term and the following is what I came up with to determine, at least for me, what a "radical" is:

• If you believe that our elected officials should be responsible to the people that put them in office.....you may be a radical.
• If you believe that patriotism is not dead and that the principles that our forefathers put forth to form this nation are still valid.....you may be a radical.
• If you believe that free enterprise and reaping the rewards of hard work is better than the redistribution of your hard earned income to those that do not want to produce.....you may be a radical.
• If you believe that government should be transparent, accountable and honest instead of corrupt, secretive and greedy.....you may be a radical.
• If you worry about the future and fate of your children and grandchildren in today's world.....you may be a radical.
• If you want less government in your life, not more and believe in the US Constitution and Bill of Rights as they were written.....you may be a radical.
• If you are tired of standing on the sidelines as part of the silent majority and are ready to try to make a difference in helping your community to not just survive but to thrive.....you may be a radical.
• If you are not afraid to stand up to bullies with personal agendas, power hungry egos that have a lack of understanding of the challenges the people of this community are going through.....you may be a radical.
• If you believe in the phrases "one nation under God", "in God we trust" and are proud to say the pledge of allegiance to our flag.....you may be a radical.
• If you still believe in freedom, liberty, justice, the rule of law and the American way of life.....you may be a radical.

So please continue to label me as a "radical." It will be a badge of honor for me to wear, because, according to the above, I am most definitely a "radical."

October Campaign Update

On September 15th, Terry and I had the pleasure of visiting with Dr. Rex Rammell, Idaho’s gubernatorial candidate for 2010. He arrived in his campaign bus at our home about 12:30 pm, so we had several hours before his 6:00 pm presentation at the American Legion, to visit and compare ideologies and viewpoints on various issues that affect us all; not just at the state level but federal issues as well. We found Rex to be well versed in Idaho issues and his commitment to the Constitution’s 10th amendment of adhering to state’s rights will be vital to Idaho’s future.
I left for the Idaho Association of Realtor’s four day conference in Coeur d’Alene early the next morning. There were a number of good classes and a lot of networking as well. The general consensus of the other Realtors and Brokers that I spoke to was pretty much the same; that the real estate industry is far from recovering in this economy. More foreclosures are imminent as more and more jobs are lost and a lack of help for those that are in danger of losing their homes. Loss mitigation for homeowners in most cases is a sham, especially now that over 50 banks have Shared Loss Agreements with the FDIC at the taxpayer’s expense. If you are interested in finding out more about this, copy and paste the following website: http://activerain.com/blogsview/1243528/is-the-fdic-killing-short-sales.
I arrived home from the conference late Saturday afternoon, and was soon on my way to the Boundary County Fairgrounds for the NRA banquet at 5:30 pm. There were over 150 people in attendance, and during a break from the various auctions, I was introduced as a candidate for county commissioner and received a round of applause and thanks and kudos from one of the NRA emcees. Dave Kramer, Bonners Ferry retired police chief was then introduced, and then my opponent Walt Kirby. Only Walt was no where to be found. The other NRA emcee announced that Kirby apparently had another appointment, paused and then said “probably with his recliner.” There was laughter, and then a few more people were introduced as well. I had the opportunity to visit with a lot of people, and two of them that I had met previously asked for some more of my campaign brochures to pass out, which was great.
On Saturday, September 26th I traveled up to Porthill at the Canadian border to be a judge for the “Battle of the Borders Chili Cookoff.” I was warmly greeted by Mike Sheppard, the owner of Porthill Mercantile and sponsor of the chili cookoff, as well as his family. The more events I attend, the more like-minded, upstanding citizens I meet. It was fun judging 13 different chilis, all of which were good, so it was a challenge to pick out the best 3, along with 2 other judges. Mike and his wife Trevelyn invited me to come back in the spring for a candidate forum, which I look forward to doing.
We now have our date to challenge our commercial property assessment from last year with the Idaho State Board of Tax Appeals. It will be October 29th, and it is our intention to provide evidence that the Boundary County Assessor did not valuate our commercial property correctly, using the methods of valuation deemed appropriate by the Idaho State Tax Commission. If we can prove that the Assessor did not properly valuate our commercial property, I believe it will set precedent for all commercial property owners next year when it comes time for commercial assessments. This will be especially important since property values for both residential and commercial real estate continue to decline, despite what our assessor and county commissioners would have us believe. The only way we can get any relief from the excessive property taxes we continually have to pay is to take on the system head first.
Property values have not just decreased here in Boundary County, but all across Idaho as well. This is reflected in the decrease by the Idaho Tax Commission for our homeowner’s exemption from $104,471 for 2009 to $101,153 for 2010. What this means to us as property owners is, that in addition to our property taxes increasing this year by 6.1%, we will also be paying more due to less of an exemption from our residential property tax assessment for next year. Unfortunately, those of us with commercial real estate have no exemptions, and will bare the full brunt of the 6.1% property tax increase at a time when more businesses in our community are closing their doors.

Where We Gather

This year’s theme at the Boundary County Fair was “Where We Gather”, and that’s what we did. August 19th-22nd was time well spent at the Boundary County Fair. I had a booth set up and spent four days talking to the fair goers. Most of the ones that went by my booth took my campaign brochure and when I asked if they were interested in knowing what was going on with the county budget and our property taxes, almost everyone replied that they did want to know what was going on and I gave them my printout on “Why?…Because They Can” article. I was pleasantly surprised that so many folks wanted the information that I had for them. I had originally made 60 copies and I figured that would last the 4 days. The first day was a shorter day as they had closed the exhibit hall for the judging, and since I had almost run out before they reopened the building, I went home and made 150 copies more of the 4 page article. I went through those on Thursday and went home and made 300 more for Friday and Saturday and had 17 left by the time the fair closed. I was quite pleased with the response from the majority of residents.
Many of those that stopped at my booth asked questions. The most prevalent questions were “Who are you running against?”, “What area of the county does District 2 cover?”, and “Are you a Republican?” A few people asked how long I had lived in Bonners Ferry. I explained that I had been in Bonners for 4 years, Cocolalla for 9 years, and before that I was a refugee that had escaped from California. Others had questions on my viewpoints on various county issues, and I was very interested in their viewpoints as well. I really only had one negative response from one man that said he didn’t agree with a lot of what I had to say, and we “agreed to disagree”, and that was okay. I think the only disappointment I had was one couple that said they didn’t vote as they preferred to “remain neutral.” With everything that is going on in our community and our country, I guess I have a little trouble wrapping my mind around that.
All in all, I believe I spoke to about 700 people during those 4 days from 9 am til about 9:30 pm each evening. Some contacts were merely introducing myself with a handshake, while others I engaged with a conversation around their issues. I kept making more brochures and article printouts to keep up with all the people I was talking with. In fact, I ran out of toner on my big copy machine, and then on my printer. I thought I had made enough printouts, but Terry had to make another 150 and brought them to me so I could make it through the last day of the fair. By 9:00 on Saturday night, I was almost out of everything, and things were winding down, plus I really didn’t have much of a voice left. I admit I was tired, but it was a “good tired.” I broke down my booth that evening and was on my way home by 10:15, dragging my butt, but energized inside my heart and soul.
I felt that my interaction with people was very positive and encouraging. I spoke to a lot of people that really care about what is going on, not only in our community, but on the national arena as well. If I were to sum up my experience at the fair, I would say that the “Silent Majority” that has been silent for so long is awakening, and those presently in office that disregard and underestimate the American voter will wonder what happened when these voters show up at the polls and show their disappointment and anger in the polling booths by redirecting the destiny of our country with the use of a pencil.
My fundraiser Bar-B-Q this past Saturday went off without a hitch. We were a little concerned about the weather as there was a 60% chance of rain, and those that came up from Bonner and Kootenai Counties said it was raining on their way up. We had a few sprinkles that lasted for just a few minutes, and that was it. We had the caterer set up on the porch in case the rain hit, but we lucked out on that score. There was plenty of Bar-B-Qued pulled pork, homemade macaroni salad and ranch beans, along with rolls and condiments. The beer and wine was flowing and sodas and water were available as well. We topped the meal off with my homemade chocolate chip cookies and brownies. I don’t think anyone went away hungry. I so much appreciated the participation of almost 50 people that made it and took the time out of their day to show their support. The atmosphere was very casual, and folks had the opportunity to meet and visit with like-minded people.
This next Tuesday, September 8th at 10:30 am in the Commissioner’s Office at the Boundary County Courthouse, the public hearing on our county budget will be held. I will be on a flight to Boise that morning, but Terry has prepared a rebuttal and will be asking some hard questions of the commissioners regarding our upcoming budget. I know it is a difficult time for many of you to make it to a meeting at that time of day, but Terry could use some “backup” there, even if you don’t want to speak yourself. In Bonner County, their public hearing for the budget is being held in both the morning and evening in order that more people can attend. Unfortunately, our county commissioners don’t really care if anyone shows up or not. In fact, their attitude is hopeful that no one will show up to hamper their agenda as is evident by only setting aside one hour on the agenda for residents to address any issues or concerns regarding the budget. Your attendance would be very much appreciated, but if you are not available to attend, we have a sign up list for Boundary County voters to add their names to in order for us to represent you. Just let us know if you would like to add your name to the list.
I recently received the following letter as an email, and I would like to share it with you:
The following letter, read on Glenn Beck's show, is rapidly circulating around the country. Americans everywhere identify with this 53-year-old woman. She has given us a voice.
GLENN BECK: I got a letter from a woman in Arizona. She writes an open letter to our nation's leadership:
I'm a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me. There must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that you're willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask yourself what my views and issues are that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me?
Well, these are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:
One, illegal immigration. I want you to stop coddling illegal immigrants and secure our borders. Close the underground tunnels. Stop the violence and the trafficking in drugs and people. No amnesty, not again Been there, done that, no resolution. P.S., I'm not a racist. This isn't to be confused with legal immigration.
Two, the TARP bill, I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you no, but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze, repeal.
Three: Czars, I want the circumvention of our checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the czars. No more czars. Government officials answer to the process, not to the president. Stop trampling on our Constitution and honor it.
Four, cap and trade. The debate on global warming is not over. There is more to say.
Five, universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don't you dare try to pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!
Six, growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Mind your own business. You have enough to take care of with your real obligations. Why don't you start there.
Seven, ACORN. I do not want ACORN and its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them every time on every real estate deal that closes. Stop the funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audits and investigations. I do not trust them with taking the census over with our taxpayer money I don't trust them with our taxpayer money. Face up to the allegations against them and get it resolved before taxpayers get any more involved with them. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, hello. Stop protecting your political buddies. You work for us, the people. Investigate.
Eight, redistribution of wealth. No, no, no. I work for my money. It is mine. I have always worked for people with more money than I have because they gave me jobs. That is the only redistribution of wealth that I will support. I never got a job from a poor person. Why do you want me to hate my employers? Why -- what do you have against shareholders making a profit?
Nine, charitable contributions. Although I never got a job from a poor person, I have helped many in need. Charity belongs in our local communities, where we know our needs best and can use our local talent and our local resources. Butt out, please. We want to do it ourselves.
Ten, corporate bailouts. Knock it off. Sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead, we'll be better off just getting into it and letting the strong survive. Quick and painful. Have you ever ripped off a Band-Aid? We will pull together. Great things happen in America under great hardship. Give us the chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.
Eleven, transparency and accountability. How about it? No, really, how about it? Let's have it. Let's say we give the buzzwords a rest and have some straight honest talk. Please try -- please stop manipulating and trying to appease me with clever wording. I am not the idiot you obviously take me for. Stop sneaking around and meeting in back rooms making deals with your friends. It will only be a prelude to your criminal investigation. Stop hiding things from me.
Twelve, unprecedented quick spending. Stop it now. Take a breath. Listen to the people. Let's just slow down and get some input from some nonpoliticians on the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed reading our bills into law. I am not an activist. I am not a community organizer. Nor am I a terrorist, a militant or a violent person. I am a parent and a grandparent. I work. I'm busy. I'm busy. I am busy, and I am tired. I thought we elected competent people to take care of the business of government so that we could work, raise our families, pay our bills, have a little recreation, complain about taxes, endure our hardships, pursue our personal goals, cut our lawn, wash our cars on the weekends and be responsible contributing members of society and teach our children to be the same all while living in the home of the free and land of the brave.
I entrusted you with upholding the Constitution. I believed in the checks and balances to keep from getting far off course. What happened? You are very far off course. Do you really think I find humor in the hiring of a speed reader to unintelligently ramble all through a bill that you signed into law without knowing what it contained? I do not. It is a mockery of the responsibility I have entrusted to you. It is a slap in the face. I am not laughing at your arrogance. Why is it that I feel as if you would not trust me to make a single decision about my own life and how I would live it but you should expect that I should trust you with the debt that you have laid on all of us and our children. We did not want the TARP bill. We said no. We would repeal it if we could. I am sure that we still cannot. There is such urgency and recklessness in all of the recent spending.
From my perspective, it seems that all of you have gone insane. I also know that I am far from alone in these feelings. Do you honestly feel that your current pursuits have merit to patriotic Americans? We want it to stop. We want to put the brakes on everything that is being rushed by us and forced upon us. We want our voice back. You have forced us to put our lives on hold to straighten out the mess that you are making. We will have to give up our vacations, our time spent with our children, any relaxation time we may have had and money we cannot afford to spend on you to bring our concerns to Washington. Our president often knows all the right buzzword is unsustainable. Well, no kidding. How many tens of thousands of dollars did the focus group cost to come up with that word? We don't want your overpriced words. Stop treating us like we're morons.
We want all of you to stop focusing on your reelection and do the job we want done, not the job you want done or the job your party wants done. You work for us and at this rate I guarantee you not for long because we are coming. We will be heard and we will be represented. You think we're so busy with our lives that we will never come for you? We are the formerly silent majority, all of us who quietly work, pay taxes, obey the law, vote, save money, keep our noses to the grindstone and we are now looking up at you. You have awakened us, the patriotic spirit so strong and so powerful that had been sleeping too long. You have pushed us too far. Our numbers are great. They may surprise you. For every one of us who will be there, there will be hundreds more that could not come. Unlike you, we have their trust. We will represent them honestly, rest assured. They will be at the polls on voting day to usher you out of office. We have cancelled vacations. We will use our last few dollars saved. We will find the representation among us and a grassroots campaign will flourish. We didn't ask for this fight. But the gloves are coming off. We do not come in violence, but we are angry. You will represent us or you will be replaced with someone who will. There are candidates among us when he will rise like a Phoenix from the ashes that you have made of our constitution.
Democrat, Republican, independent, libertarian. Understand this. We don't care. Political parties are meaningless to us. Patriotic Americans are willing to do right by us and our Constitution and that is all that matters to us now. We are going to fire all of you who abuse power and seek more. It is not your power. It is ours and we want it back . We entrusted you with it and you abused it. You are dishonorable. You are dishonest. As Americans we are ashamed of you. You have brought shame to us. If you are not representing the wants and needs of your constituency loudly and consistently, in spite of the objections of your party, you will be fired. Did you hear? We no longer care about your political parties. You need to be loyal to us, not to them Because we will get you fired and they will not save you. If you do or can represent me, my issues, my views, please stand up. Make your identity known. You need to make some noise about it. Speak up. I need to know who you are. If you do not speak up, you will be herded out with the rest of the sheep and we will replace the whole congress if need be one by one. We are coming. Are we coming for you? Who do you represent? What do you represent? Listen. Because we are coming. We the people are coming.
I hope you related to the above letter as much as I did. I think we will find more and more people getting involved. I had a number of people thank me at the fair for stepping up and running for Commissioner. It is something that I had never planned, but circumstances have led me to this new path in my life. I feel so blessed to have all the support, good wishes and the contributions I have received thus far, making it possible for me to start a true election campaign. Even though I am running for office, I do not feel like a politician, but just someone wanting to do the right thing for my community by being an authentic leader that you as my friends, family and supporters can be proud of and respect.
“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.” Joel A. Barker

"WHY?"....Because They Can

I’m sure you’ve all heard the old saying, “If you want to hide something, just put it in plain sight.” Puzzles can be fun, but not when it costs you money that you would rather keep for yourself instead of in a bank account for the county. I’ve been at almost all of the county commissioner’s meetings for the last four months, & of particular interest to me was making sure I attended those that revolved around the county budget.
Now I’m no mathematician, CPA, or even a bookkeeper, but I do know how to balance a checkbook, & can read an excel spreadsheet. During the county commissioner’s budget reviews, they have been patting themselves on the back & saying they are not raising the budget. However, after peeling back each layer of the onion, more & more information has come to light that you might find of interest. The county’s fiscal year (FY) runs from October 1st through September 30th of each year. The proposed Boundary County budget for FY 2010 is $13,518,895. The budget from the previous FY was $13,925,197.86, thus technically the commissioner’s statement that they “did not raise the budget” is correct, but misleading to say the least. I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase “smoke and mirrors.” In fiscal year 2009 the taxes from property owners were $3,703,902. The upcoming FY 2010 taxes from property owners are $3,897,148. This $193,246 is an increase of 5.22% from the previous year that will come directly out of our wallets in the form of our property assessments which determines the property taxes we have to pay. “Why?” you may ask…because they can. According to Idaho Statute 63-802, the maximum the county can increase our property tax burden is 3% without declaring an emergency. So, how do the commissioners go over the maximum allowed 3% increase? Because they can. When a taxing district has added territory through annexation or taxable property through new construction in the prior year, its property tax budget for the current year is allowed to increase above the 3% cap. According to our county assessor, there was $15,921,905 value of new construction in Boundary County for the 2009 construction roll. I, for one, would like to see where all this new construction is, or see how this
figure was arrived at. This nearly 16 million dollars of added value increased our property tax burden by $62,690. If there is a loophole that can be used to add our hard earned money to the county coffers, you can be sure it will be used by our county commissioners. Last year, our taxes were $393.74 per $100,000 of assessed value; this year the figure is $419.05 per $100,000 of assessed value. This $25.31 increase is an additional 6.43% increase in our property taxes.
Since our property taxes are directly determined by our property assessments, let’s do a short review. As previously provided to our county assessor as well as the current county commissioners, property values in Boundary County have decreased significantly, as determined by factual statistics from the Selkirk Association of Realtors. Assessed values are
supposed to be determined by market value as defined by Idaho Statutes 63-208 and 63-314 (5) as well as Idaho Administrative Rule 217. During our last assessment, the county assessor declared that values had not dropped, but refused to use complete statistical information available to him. In reality, values dropped 10.25% for residential sales. This is an average, not an absolute. According to the current assessment year from October 1, 2008 through today’s date of August 16, there has been a further reduction of market values of 9.5%. The total decrease of residential values from October, 2006 through now has been a total drop of 19.75% average, using a total of 170 residential sales. In the face of this factual information, & a solution was given to the assessor as well as the commissioners, they continue to refuse to use correct statistical data to determine our assessments in a fair and just manner. “Why?” …because they can. If they lower any property assessments at all, it lowers their bottom line of revenue from our property taxes.
As our community continues to struggle because of the economy, our commissioners have not even once talked about cutting back. Reducing the county property taxes could make a huge difference for many families trying to make their mortgage payments and put food on the table, as unemployment continues to climb, inflation increases, & less money comes from other revenue sources. The county commissioners need to evaluate their budget & truly determine what needs to be cut back. This can be accomplished by what is called zero based budgeting.
Every year the county automatically increases our property tax base by 3% as disclosed in paperwork obtained from the county clerk’s office. Part of their revenue source data has an automatic 3% increase, whether it is needed or not. “Why?”…because they can. Zero based budgeting is simply going back to basics & starting from scratch for each department. This is something that does not necessarily need to be done each year, but at least every few years to determine a correct budget for each department. Having worked in civil service for most of my adult life, I can also tell you that I have never known of any department head of any government agency that does not “pad” their budget. There will always be a budgetary discrepancy between a government’s needs & its wants. It is now time to take care of the county’s needs, not its wants.
In 2007, Boundary County Commissioners increased the county budget by 7.8%; in 2008 the increase was 14.3%; in 2009 the increase was 31.0%. The proposed 2010 budget shows a decrease of 3.0%, but as mentioned previously, the property tax base is being increased by 5.22 % if there is no objection at the Public Hearing for the budget. The total budget increase for Boundary County from 2006-2010 is 55%, yet the population has remained almost static. “Why?” you may ask again…because they can.
Now here is the piece of the puzzle I find the most interesting as well as frustrating. As I started this article referring to hiding something in plain sight, the attached excel spread sheet is what I am referring to. The following figures were obtained from our county clerk’s office & are available to the public upon request. As you can see, Boundary County has a total of $5,477,106.47 in cash reserves on hand. This figure is 40.5% of our total county budget! So, WHY are our county commissioners keeping our tax money in the bank instead of reducing our property tax burden? Because they can! I have no problem with keeping an adequate cash reserve for emergencies and unexpected expenses, but 40.5% is completely unacceptable. 15% reserves should be more than adequate. Why do the county commissioners not talk about their cash reserves on hand? Because they don’t want you to see what is hiding right in plain sight. Almost 5.5 million dollars at their disposal. Why don’t they tell the public the truth? Because they can.
The public hearing for the Boundary County Budget will be held on Tuesday, September 8th at 10:30 am at the County Courthouse in the Commissioner’s Office. Why do they pick a time of day when most people are working and can’t show up? Because they can. They really do not want us there. If you agree with any of the above information and are tired of “business as usual” by our county commissioners, please try to make it to this public hearing. It will be your only chance of disputing the budget if you so desire. If you are tired of being taxed to death from the county, the state and the feds, it time for us to start telling our representatives, “Because YOU can’t!”

Commissioners Preliminary Budget Reviews

The amount of property taxes we pay is determined by the county budget and various taxing districts. The budget is backed into a mill rate and your property valuation determines your how much you will ultimately have to pay in property taxes.
As I attend the weekly county commissioner meetings, there have been a number of budget reviews. Although the county commissioners are attempting to not increase their budget, I have seen no effort to actually decrease their budget, which would reduce the amount of property taxes we pay. It has been my observation during these budget reviews, that these are not reviews at all. The reviews basically revolve around business as usual, and it appears that there is no understanding of the economy in Boundary County. Until the commissioners actually evaluate each and every department budget line by line in order to determine where cuts can be made, things will continue status quo. In my opinion, they need to implement a budget review like Idaho has had, called “Zero Based Budgeting.” This is a process by which a budget goes back to square one and is truly reevaluated as to what is or is not needed in a department’s budget. This does not necessarily have to take place every year, but a true review needs to be done periodically instead of accepting department budgets at face value. Having worked for several civil service agencies over the years, I can assure you that when a budget is turned in for a review, there is always padding, knowing that their budget may be reduced. Without the commissioners taking an active role in what and how their departments spend taxpayer dollars, this will never change.
I have spoken to a lot of property owners for both residences and commercial buildings lately. Some of the businesses are doing alright, but the majority of people I talk to are struggling to stay afloat. Some are not doing that, as they close their doors, some of which have been in business for a long time here. One business owner told me she took out a loan on her house in order to keep her business doors open. She is hoping for a miracle that the economy will improve. Many tenant occupied commercial buildings are changing locations trying to lower their rent and expenses and hoping a new location will increase their business.
As more people in Boundary County lose their jobs, foreclosures are increasing as predicted. I have counseled a number of home owners to try and help them keep their homes, but with no new jobs on the horizon anytime soon, the loss of their home is most likely a foregone conclusion. Many of these folks have their homes for sale, but with the foreclosures on the market affecting the prices, few are lucky enough to find a buyer without having to go through a short sale, which in itself can cause tax consequences with the IRS. Add to the fact that it is hard to get a loan, even for someone with a good credit score, contributes to the distressed real estate market not only here but all across the nation. Until the housing market recovers, there will be little change in our economic viability. As people leave our county looking for jobs and/or cheaper living expenses, our own property taxes will increase because less people will be paying into the system.
Many counties and states across the country are going bankrupt as people are unable to pay their taxes causing less revenue to draw from. Anyone that balances a checkbook understands that when you have more money going out than you have coming in, the checkbook goes into the red. As our state works for a balanced budget with less revenue coming in to them, less money will come from the state to our county. People are spending less and with the high unemployment rate in Idaho, there is less income tax coming into the state coffers. Even with hiring freezes, employee furloughs and budget holdbacks, Idaho is struggling to keep from going into the red. One only has to look at the State of California to see what happens. If our government does not heed the lessons of being fiscally responsible, then the same thing can happen to us.
When people have to make the choice of whether to make their house payment or pay their taxes, I guarantee you that the house payment, food on the table and paying the utility bills will come first.
If the county commissioners are not able to determine where cuts can be made, there are a number of Boundary County citizens that are proficient in corporate budgets than can assist. Perhaps a Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee would be a good way to assist in this process. Everyone cannot know everything, but assistance and advice from those with expertise could be the way to go.
We in Boundary County are not immune to the consequences of the unrealistic decisions being made in Washington, DC. President Obama and Congress have spent hundreds of billions of dollars on a so-called stimulus bill. It will have the same effect of the “New Deal” which was a dismal failure. It will only lead to retardation of economic growth, create havoc on the free market, and increase our already massive federal debt that not only our children will pay for, but our grandchildren as well. The government does not add to our economy, but does the opposite as it imposes more taxes, more control, and more intrusion into our lives in the name of saving the economy. The federal government is printing money at unprecedented levels which will only devalue the dollar. This will cause hyper-inflation, and when a loaf of bread ends up costing us $20.00 a loaf, it will be too late to turn the tide.
As the poor decisions coming out of Washington, DC continue on, it will be even more important for us as a community to be aware and involved in what is going on at the county level. Even less taxes locally will put more money in our pockets to pay bills and help us not only survive, but thrive. If the Cap and Trade legislation that was passed by the US House of Representative passes the Senate, this will mean the largest tax imposed on America in its history and will most likely destroy what is left of the housing market.
Being aware of the issues is one way to help our community. Becoming involved in making a difference is even better. But at the very least, know who your political representatives are and what they stand for, and then even an individual can make a difference at the polls.

County Assessor Still Doesn't Get It !!!

Below is a statement made on June 12, 2009 from Boundary County Assessor David Ryals as a response to my article on assessments. As I point out, he still doesn't get it!! Below that will be my rebuttal to his statements.

June 12, 2009
Recently, a contributor has expressed opinions in RuralNorthwest.com, the Herald, and on a local radio broadcast stating there had been a 10.25 percent decrease in residential property sale prices. The author suggests that this should have caused a corresponding decrease in assessed values thereby yielding lower tax bills. Well, her conclusions are incorrect. Lowering everyone's valuation is unlikely to effectively change anyone's tax bill. It just causes the rates to go up. Regardless, the problem is that the data she cited represents an invalid comparison and does not relate, in any way, as to how our assessed values actually compare to those sale prices. That is the critical thing and the fact remains that the majority of the properties that actually are selling, are still selling for more than we have them valued at. This same author has also complained that I am unwilling to use Multiple Listing Service (MLS) sales data. That is true because I consider it unethical. Currently, under Idaho law, disclosure of any real estate sale price is voluntary. We already ask for it on every property ownership transfer. If someone chooses not to respond, it means they wish to keep it private and I respect that. If I obtain it from MLS and use it anyway, their "private" information now becomes public and I simply won't do that.Please do review your notices closely, and as always, feel free to call or come visit me if you have questions, concerns, or just want to know more about how the process works. We can't control the market, but we do work hard to accurately report it and hopefully, help you better understand it. Respectfully,David RyalsBoundary County Assessormailto:Assessordryals@boundarycountyid.org

Mr. Ryals,

It would appear that you did not actually read my articles on residential property sales that you spoke of, or perhaps you didn’t understand. Therefore, let me take the time to explain my statements to you.

I provided factual information on the overall decrease on residential sales from October 1, 2007 through September 30th, 2008 of 10.25%. In your article, you said I suggested that “this should have caused a corresponding decrease in assessed values thereby yielding lower tax bills.” That is not what I said, and I quote: “This drop in the overall sales prices does not necessarily mean your own valuation has gone up or down, but because this 10.25% decrease is so substantial, it is an indication of what has happened in our local real estate market, and might give you cause to question your valuation.”
Your statement, “Lowering everyone's valuation is unlikely to effectively change anyone's tax bill. It just causes the rates to go up,” is simply smoke and mirrors through the use of rhetoric, since I never suggested that everyone’s valuation be lowered. As I stated in my article, “What is important to know is that your property valuation will determine the amount of property taxes you will pay when you get your actual property tax billing in November. Ultimately, the amount we pay in property taxes is determined by the budget that is set by our county commissioners. The Board of Equalization (which consists of our three county commissioners) by law can only consider the current year assessed property valuation, not the taxes”. Since you referred to my radio interview, I suggested the analogy of thinking of the county budget as a pie. I stated, “Your property valuation is your piece of the pie. The higher your valuation, the bigger piece of the pie you are responsible for. The largest part of the pie, which is the county budget, is set by the county commissioners. The remainder of the pie is made up of taxing districts such as the school district, the hospital, library, solid waste and some fire districts. This is why it is vitally important that the assessor determines the correct value of your property.”
Your statement, “the problem is that the data she cited represents an invalid comparison and does not relate, in any way, as to how our assessed values actually compare to those sale prices.” I shouldn’t have to quote Idaho State Statute to you, but I will be glad to. Let me refer you to Statute 63-208, Duty of Assessors, “The rules promulgated by the state tax commission shall require each assessor to find market value for assessment purposes of all property within his county according to recognized appraisal methods and techniques set forth by the state tax commission; provided, that the actual and functional use shall be a major consideration when determining market value for assessment purposes.” Furthermore, under Idaho Administrative Code, specifically Rule 217 (01), Market Value Definition. Market value is the most probable amount of United Stated dollars or equivalent for which a property would exchange hands between a knowledgeable and willing seller, under no compulsion to sell, and an informed, capable buyer, under no compulsion to buy, with a reasonable time allowed to consummate the sale, substantiated by a reasonable down or full cash payment.” In other words, solds prices have to be used to determine the assessment valuations of our properties. Making statements that everything has stayed the same with no facts or figures to substantiate what you said is unacceptable.
Your statement, “This same author has also complained that I am unwilling to use Multiple Listing Service (MLS) sales data. That is true because I consider it unethical.” By not using statistical information and actual comparable sales to determine value is a disservice to the property owners of this county. Only by gathering appropriate information can an assessor valuate property fairly, correctly and impartially. What is unethical is not telling the public the truth – whether by deceit or incompetence, the result is the same. It is vital that our elected officials do their jobs correctly which will result in the betterment of our community. To me, ethics means doing the right thing, within the law, using intrinsic values, principles, and facts to determine the truth in order to make correct and relevant decisions.
Your statement, “Currently, under Idaho law, disclosure of any real estate sale price is voluntary. We already ask for it on every property ownership transfer. If someone chooses not to respond, it means they wish to keep it private and I respect that. If I obtain it from MLS and use it anyway, their "private" information now becomes public and I simply won't do that.” First of all, as of July 1, 2008, Idaho Statute 54-2083 (6) d “A sold price of real property is not confidential client information.” As to receiving information on MLS solds, no personal information, such as buyer’s or seller’s names is provided. Not only does your lack of data prevent you from providing correct valuations for your office, the information you provide to the state tax commission for their equalization study would also be incorrect. When I spoke to the tax commission recently, I was advised that the information they use for their equalization is provided by you, but they can also obtain input from the public. Even though you used the time frame of October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008, the state tax commission can also use data through December 31st of 2008, and beyond if necessary, in order to correctly determine trending. The MLS will have the most accurate and up to date information for valuations. It should be the duty of our elected officials to keep current on changes in Idaho Statutes that affects the performance of their mandated duties.
It is no secret that I have had issues with Jerry Clemons, the Bonner County Assessor in the past, but to his credit, his county website explains the appeals process and provides the forms necessary online allowing easy access for property owners.
From October 1, 2006 until today’s date, the total decrease in overall average sales prices has been a drop of 15.29%. From September 30th, 2008, the beginning of next year’s valuation time period, until today’s date, there has been an additional drop of 5.65% from last year; there have been 45 MLS residential sales in Boundary County.
I would be more than happy to discuss this with you in open forum. This will give you the opportunity to provide to the public, where and how you got your data, and to answer the question of how you can make a statement that things have not changed in the face of facts and figures. When the commercial property owners asked you to come to a meeting and explain their valuations to us, you called us a “lynch mob” and refused to come. As an elected official, you owe it to the taxpayers and voters to explain what facts and figures you used to substantiate your statements. Perhaps a phone call to the Canyon County Assessor, who said their sales prices dropped and therefore so did the assessment valuations.

Donna Capurso
Owner/Broker, Selkirk Mountain Real Estate
ABR, CRS, GRI, RRS

Losing Access to Our Public Lands

When I was growing up in Fresno, I had the opportunity to be a Girl Scout from the age of 8 to 18. I doubt if I would be the person I am today if it had not been for the Girl Scout troop I belonged to. The nurturing environment, the ability to learn skills and build character and strong values as well as feelings of self-worth have stayed with me throughout my life. I still adhere to their motto of “Be Prepared.” When I was 18 and graduating, I had the opportunity to attend the Girl Scout Jamboree in Coeur d’Alene, with 10,000 other girl scouts, which was one huge campout.
The most fun I had in scouting was on our camping trips. Our scout leader taught us about camping in the woods, from building a fire and starting it without matches to pitching a tent, or making a soft place to sleep on pine needles and leaves under the stars. We caught fish, cleaned and cooked them over a fire. We learned to mark trails so we wouldn’t get lost and I’ll never forget my first “snipe hunt.” I also remember waking up one morning with a Tarantula in my sleeping bag. I guess it wanted to stay warm as well. I quickly earned enough money to buy myself a mummy bag to avoid a similar tickling experience.
I have lived in a city from the age of 5 on. I loved being in the woods, and when I had kids, we took them camping as well. Enjoying nature’s bounty has given myself as well as our children an appreciation for the great outdoors.
Terry and I moved to north Idaho over twelve years ago, knowing that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives in the mountains. We became avid snowmobile riders and enjoy taking to the trail on our ATV. Fishing is so relaxing up here and just walking through the woods and enjoying the wildlife is awesome.
Now, the lifestyle that we all enjoy in Boundary County will soon be taken away from us, through legislation and via extreme environmentalists, if we don’t stand up and be heard. The U.S. Forest Service is presenting their Draft Supplemental Environment Impact Statement (DSEIS) for final approval. We, the public, only have until June 22nd, to submit our comments and opinions to the Forest Service. This plan encompasses 4,560 square miles of what the Forest Service considers Grizzly Bear habitat, which affects the Kootenai, Idaho Panhandle, and Lolo National Forests. The auspices of this draft are under the Endangered Species Act.
Man and animal have lived together for millennia and both have not only survived but thrived. Every time government gets involved with Mother Nature, things go wrong. You don’t have to leave our region or think back too far, to remember the fiascos revolving around Canadian Caribou, the Lynx, and our current problems because of the introduction of wolves as an endangered species to Idaho; and the list goes on. It would be wonderful if the states took over the US Forest Service and administered our public lands at the state level.
In addition to the DSEIS report, there is legislation in Washington (H.R. 980, Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act) which, if passed, will take an additional 24 million acres and designate it as wilderness. This legislation will literally lock us out of the forests that are part of our lives, all in the name of protecting the ecosystem of the area. This proposed federal legislation is from a democratic senator from New York. This legislation alone will destroy our quality of life as well as the economic viability of our community. We need to stand together to protect our freedom to use public lands which were endowed to us as citizens of this country. If our public lands are listed as wilderness, our children and grandchildren will not have the opportunity to snowmobile, ride an ATV or horse, camp, hunt, fish, or even gather huckleberries in our national forests, all under the guise of protecting the environment, knowing that the extreme environmentalist agenda is to shut us out completely. They do not understand the premise of compromise and common sense. Those of us that use the forest are conservationists at heart. We know that to do otherwise would be killing the goose that lays the golden egg. It is the goal of the extreme environmentalists to promote their own agendas and self interests to the detriment of all of us and our way of life. As P.J. O’Rourke said, "People with a mission to save the earth want the earth to seem worse than it is so their mission will look more important."
Each and every one of us can make a difference. Make your comments regarding DSEIS no later than June 22, 2009 by sending an email to idpanhandle@fs.fed.us and put in the subject line “Forest Plan Amendments for Motorized Access Management DSEIS, or you can write: Ranotta McNair, Forest Supervisor, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815.
In regards to the federal legislation HR 980, you need to express your opinion to our US Congressmen. You can either watch things happen, make things happen or just wonder what happened. The voices of many will make more of an impact than the voices of a few.