Let Taxpayer Donations Go The Way Of Tax Form ‘No’ Box
Don’t look now, but a lot of us just lost the chance to tell Idaho’s political parties what we think of them.
You know what I’m talking about. Idaho Form 40 no longer has a “no” box for the Election Campaign Fund checkoff. It has been crowded off the Idaho income tax form by the addition of three new qualifying parties fighting for your $1 donation: Natural Law, Reform and U.S. Taxpayers. There’s also an option to donate to all six qualifying parties by marking “No specific party.”
But no “no.”
Checking off the “no” was one of the highlights of my annual battle with income tax forms. It was my small way of saying none of Idaho’s political parties is wholly acceptable. It also provided an opportunity to protest the amount sucked from my paycheck in state and federal taxes. It was my line in the sand. It said, you can take the rest from me but not a dollar more.
The Tax Commission, of course, won’t take the dollar if none of the boxes is checked (now the only option for the supermajority of us who don’t want to donate.) In fact, most of the 500,000 returns filed annually in recent years had no check marks. Meanwhile, donations have dwindled to a combined $65,818 in tax year 1996, a presidential year.
Maybe the politicians and tax collectors should take the hint and eliminate the checkoff altogether.
Bonner County still flirts with goofy idea
By now, you’d think Bonner County commissioners would forget about their goofy amnesty law. Remember it? In December, the trio waved their magic wand and declared as copacetic thousands of illegally subdivided lots. But, before the ordinance took effect, several residents were tipped off and created at least 265 more illegal lots. So, the new law was repealed. Now, however, the commissioners have set a Feb. 26 hearing to discuss another amnesty proposal, which is opposed by business and and real estate interests alike. Brian Bartlett, a land title examiner, correctly observed that the county needs to control growth, not “take the lid off of it.” Stay tuned.
It’s CHS’ time to grab brass ring
Hot Potatoes hates to nag, but it’s past time for the Coeur d’Alene School District to finish remodeling the old high school. The work was promised as part of the successful campaign to build Lake City High. Some of it has been done. Much hasn’t. Now, the long-range committee has included the project, or possible construction of a new high school, as part of a $20 million facilities upgrade. It’s nice they remembered - finally.
, DataTimes MEMO: D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125, or by sending e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.