Re: Levy Timing

["Douglas Whitney" <dwhitney@moscow.com>]

It really is amazing how little people know about the complexity of local
governmental entities in Idaho (and many other states) Only the state and
city govermments are general purpose goverments. Look at your property tax
bill to see how many other separate governmental entities impact on your
lives. All but the city have very specific purposes,and have power to govern
only in those areas specifically designated in state law. Even the county
government is limited in its lawful functions. For example, it has no power,
as does a city, to install and operate public utilities, like sewage
treatement systems. It is without authority to operate a cemetary,  fire
department or ambulance service, or lots of other things that sometimes
people mistakenly think it should be doing. Some county governments, like
Nez Perce County, do build and maintain the county road system, where the
voters have opted not to create highway districts, as is the case in Latah.

Doug
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Lamar" <lamar@pcei.org>
To: <vision2020@moscow.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 11:47 AM
Subject: Re: Levy Timing


> Walter,
>
> Amazing, isn't it?  All around the state, Highway District commissioners
> are elected and serve.  The North Latah County Highway District has a
> sizable budget  administered by people elected by Latah County residents.
> When people talk about "County Roads", they're talking about roads the
> County doesn't deal with.  Its the Highway District that repairs and
builds
> "County" roads.
>
> In Ada County the Newspaper actually reports on the elections.  I don't
> believe that the Daily News has covered any of the North (or South) Latah
> County Highway District elections in recent years.  Sometimes, the polling
> places are even in public locations, although I remember a few years ago
> the Potlatch polling place was in someone's house (I think her first name
> was Mable).
>
> Tom
>
> ><< I wonder how many vsion 2020 subscribers have ever participated
> >in an August Highway District election... >>
> >
> >They have ELECTIONS???
> >
> >Walter Steed
>
>
>