Question No. 2 — 6/23/05

Issue : NIC budget uses foregone taxes: Trustee, business group leader suggest finding alternate means /Taryn Brodwater, SR.

DFO : Kelly Richards of Concerned Businesses is right here. By taking the foregone taxes and dropping $1 million more into the budget in salary increases, NIC has locked that chunk into the budget to become part of next year’s 3% increase. With the approval of city bonds in February, the approval of the recent school district levy and this unilateral hike, Coeur d’Alene residents are going to feel it in their property taxes this fall.

Question: Why wasn’t there more squawking about the NIC board taking the foregone taxes to add $1 million in payroll?