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Paperwork error leaves half of Boise Foothills levy uncollected

Posted at 12:46 PM, Sep 08, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-08 19:33:23-04

In 2015, Boise voters overwhelmingly approved a $10 million levy to further preserve and protect the Boise Foothills and the Boise River.

Taxpayers were supposed to start paying for the levy this year and in 2018. The city announced Friday a clerical error in paperwork filed with Ada County prevented the levy from being assessed during fiscal year 2017.

On Tuesday, the Boise City Council will consider asking voters to amend a temporary, two-year override levy.

If approved, voters will be asked to shift the years the money will be collected. The city seems confident voters will once again approve the measure.

“Nearly three-quarters of voters originally supported these protections for our Foothills and Boise River – these kinds of values are part of who we are as Boiseans,” said Boise Mayor David Bieter. “An honest, easily-made mistake in our paperwork – a single line left unfilled in one form – means that we haven’t been collecting revenue for the Open Space and Clean Water fund during this fiscal year. We think voters will gladly help us correct this mistake to ensure those protections reach their full potential.”

The levy would be collected from taxpayers in 2018 and 2019.  

Boise voters approved a similar tax levy in 2001 that leveraged a $10 million fund into protection of nearly 11,000 acres, with an estimated value of about $35 million, in the Boise Foothills.