Mayor Gives Council B+ For Year

The city’s top man gave himself and the City Council high marks - a B+ - for their efforts in 1995.

Friday, in a replay of his “State of the City” address, Mayor Al Hassell told a luncheon crowd that the city had made good on its three biggest promises for 1995: to hold the line on taxes, improve streets and offer quality police and fire protection.

Few could argue. The city lowered its tax rate 12.3 percent from the previous year.

“Even though home values are going up, the actual dollars paid by homeowners are going down,” Hassell said.

The average value of a home in 1994 was $95,000 and the subsequent tax bill was $1,280. In 1995, the average home value rose to $110,000 with a tax bill of $1,174.

The city saved $211,000 by refinancing 10- and 20-year-old outstanding bonds and another $500,000 with low bids and low bond rates for street improvements last year. The city even offered $35,000 in rebates for a curbside recycling program.

Meanwhile, a new program to reduce the city’s accident rate appears to be working. Four officers with high-tech gear are issuing more warnings and fewer tickets in an effort to educate rather than punish drivers.

The city’s accident rate dropped from worst in the state to third worst in 1995, Hassell said.

This year, Hassell said, the city plans to start work on a project to reconstruct East Sherman Avenue, increase coordination with other cities and Kootenai County and make headway on a long legislative agenda.

Last year, each one of the measures city officials pushed was vetoed by southern Idaho lawmakers.

First on their list this year is revamping the state’s tax distribution methods. It’s a move Hassell said will require help from residents.

Currently, sales taxes, liquor and gas taxes from Kootenai County subsidize other counties, and have since the 1960s, according to County Administrator Tom Taggart.

“I’ve been told point-blank, as a city official, that I don’t count,” Hassell told the small crowd. “Legislators want to hear from you - not me.”

, DataTimes