BOISE, Idaho — A bill that is close to becoming law could have some major impacts on cities and towns across the state.
House Bill 217, also known as the urban renewal bill, would require municipalities to go to the people and hold an election whenever a municipal building project is going to use 51 percent or more of public money to complete. That includes urban renewal dollars.
The legislation is now creating a lot of uncertainty surrounding the proposed library and stadium projects in Boise.
Supporters of the bill said it ensures the people have a say on how their tax dollars are being spent.
"So if they use urban renewal, auditorium and similar general fund moneys and it exceeds 51 percent they now have to have a vote of the people,” said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Mike Moyle of Star.
It would take 60 percent approval by voters to get the green light to move forward with the project. Moyle said this bill would prevent urban renewal districts from abusing the current system.
"Abuses like Boise is talking about like building... libraries and stadiums and things like that,” Moyle said.
Moyle referenced the proposed library project in Boise that would cost around $80 million, and another proposed project in Boise that would build a new sports stadium.
"I think the original bill came in response to those two projects, and I think the unintended consequence of making it look like it wasn't about those two projects is now harming cities all over the state,” Sen. Maryanne Jordan said.
Jordan, a former Boise City Council member and current board member for Boise's urban renewal agency - Capital City Development Corporation - voted against the bill.
"If you've got a project that is not even urban renewal dollars, and urban renewal makes the slightest contribution, if the combination of the city dollars and urban renewal dollars reaches a certain threshold it will force them all to elections,” Jordan said.
Moyle said the money that comes from urban renewal districts is being taken away from other areas. That's why he thinks voters should have a say on how that money is spent.
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"So money that used to go towards your roads go away to support or fund whatever the urban renewal or the city who created the urban renewal pet projects and that's a concern for me,” Moyle said. “If you live in Meridian, Star, Kuna, Eagle, you have no say when Boise creates an urban renewal district, but they just took money away from your roads and other county services.”
KTVB reached out to the city of Boise looking for an answer to how this bill would affect the two proposed projects. The city responded by saying the impacts are uncertain at this time.
Since amendments were made to the bill in the Senate, it heads back to the House. The House needs to agree with those amendments. Moyle said he's expecting a vote on it sometime this week. If the House passes it, it'll head to the governors' desk.