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Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Call it a bailout bill for Boise County. This mountainous, sparsely-populated county north of Boise faces a $5.4 million court judgment, after a jury ruled in 2010 it broke federal laws by blocking a teen treatment center. Ever since, it's been trying to figure out how to pay the bill, without burdening its 7,000 residents too much. Declaring bankruptcy failed. Now, House Majority Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts of Donnelly is carrying Boise County's water. His measure would allow the county to bond for the money —even if a tax increase necessary to pay off the bonds violates a statutory 3 percent increase limit that normally must win a two-thirds vote. Roberts, ordinarily a Republican anti-tax hawk, says his measure is narrowly crafted, to assist a county in a dire situation.
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fortboise on February 22 at 11:37 a.m.
The good folks of Boise County owe some money because of the malfeasance of the leadership they elected. Allowing an override of the 3% limit for increasing taxes doesn’t exactly sound like a “bailout.” The (rest of the) state isn’t giving them money… but rather allowing them to solicit bond investors to do so.
It gets interesting when a court says “you must pay” and the taxpayers say “we don’t want to.”