On July 15, 2025, the Boise City Council approved the FY26 budget, which included a 4% property tax increase — 3% allowed by law, plus a 1% foregone hike — ignoring the financial strain on residents. As one of the few voices opposing this budget, I’m dismayed by the council’s disregard for taxpayers and the chorus of speakers who showered praise on the council, mayor, and staff. This near-unanimous applause, with only four dissenters, was truly horrifying, revealing a disconnect between City Hall and Boise’s hardworking families.
The FY26 budget projects General Fund revenue at $331.3 million, a 38.8% increase from FY21, far outpacing inflation (22%) and population growth (6.3%). Property taxes will rise 26.2% over the same period. Then, the additional 7.6% hike in property tax from FY25-26 alone, all contribute to exacerbating the burden on homeowners already grappling with rising costs. Furthermore, the council offered no clear justification for how these funds address urgent needs, such as housing affordability or public safety.
Enterprise Funds, driven by a $112.6 million airport expansion, will soar 108.3% since FY21. While infrastructure matters, prioritizing a single project over core services, such as road maintenance or police staffing, is shortsighted.
Staffing is another concern. City headcount is set to rise 16.2% to 2,133, which is 2.6 times the population growth rate, suggesting inefficiencies. The creation of the Department of Organizational Effectiveness, with its vague purpose and four new positions, feels like a bureaucratic fantasy straight out of “The Hunger Games.” What does it do, and why wasn’t this explained to taxpayers?
Most alarming was the meeting itself. Only four speakers, myself included, opposed the budget, while others praised the council and Mayor Lauren McLean’s team, ignoring the fiscal recklessness. This lack of scrutiny emboldens unchecked spending and erodes trust. Residents deserve transparency — clear breakdowns of volatile revenues like the 300.8% spike in “Other Revenue” — not blind accolades.
Pretty PowerPoint presentations filled with "feel-good" explanations just don't cut it. The "budget" was rarely advertised, and one would have to look for the document on the City website (over 200 pages). Why not give taxpayers more time to review and comment, and provide much more publicity about where to review the budget?
It seems like the blatant disregard for the "Flag Law" got immense publicity, while a tax increase did not. What are the City of Boise's priorities?
Boiseans are not a bottomless ATM. The council must revise its approach, align spending with inflation and population growth, and prioritize essential services. We demand a budget that respects taxpayers, not one that burdens us while City Hall celebrates itself.
