BOISE, Idaho — The Boise City Council on Tuesday night took public testimony over the city's proposed budget for the coming fiscal year, which begins in October.
The total budged proposal is $514.7 million, with a $241.3 million general fund. About two-thirds of the general fund comes from property tax revenues.
City officials are proposing a 3% property tax increase - the maximum allowed under Idaho law.
While the assessed home value in the city has increased sharply in recent years, the homeowner's exemption does not change, and is capped at $100,000 under a state law approved three years ago.
The final vote on whether to adopt or change the budget will take place sometime in August.
Several Boise residents who spoke during the public hearing objected to the proposed tax increase, and some told the City Council that they feel like city leaders are overlooking some neighborhoods while spending more money on big projects downtown.
"Boise citizens are hurting," one woman said. "Housing costs, taxes, and city fees are escalating and ordinary people cannot keep up."
"If my property taxes keep going up, eventually I guess I'm going to have to move to the Marquesas," said a man. "I'd just wear a grass skirt and lull around in the sand."
"Our kids are desperately in need of a park," another woman said. "As a parent in southwest Boise, I load up my kids and we head across town."
For every dollar the city collects, about 56 cents go to the police and fire departments, 20 cents go to parks and libraries, five cents are for contracted services, and 19 cents are divided among several other city departments.
The full city budget document is posted online here.