Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Tuesday Deadline For Rathdrum Vote

Rathdrum residents have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to return advisory ballots regarding tax-increment financing to City Hall.

About 1,200 registered voters received ballots in the mail last month. The city is asking residents whether taxincrement financing should be used to lure development, including a Micron Technology Inc. plant.

“The silent majority are the ones we tend not to hear from … and yet we need their input,” said Rathdrum acting mayor Tawnda Bromley. “This will give us some idea how the community feels.”

Like Post Falls, Rathdrum has land being considered by Micron for a $1.3 billion manufacturing plant. Rathdrum needs to build a sewer system, among other things, in order to serve a plant as large as the one Micron wants to build.

Tax-increment financing would allow the city to sell bonds to pay for the improvements. Micron’s property taxes would pay off the bonds.

Because the Rathdrum vote is advisory, Bromley said the city has monitored results as ballots come in.

“People seem in favor of using (tax-increment) financing,” she said. “It doesn’t put a tax burden on our citizens, which is important.”

Micron isn’t the only company that could request tax help from the city. Btu Energy Inc. plans to build a massive power plant in town and, according to Bromley, smaller developments also are in the works.

The Rathdrum advisory ballot was mailed only to registered voters. Residents who received ballots also were given a self-addressed, stamped envelope for returning the ballot to City Hall. Ballots also can be handdelivered to City Hall, if turned in by Tuesday.