Treasure Valley Partnership Regional Town Hall on Growth and Funding Challenges – January 15, 2026

On January 15, 2026, the Treasure Valley Partnership (TVP) held its first regional town hall at Nampa City Hall, bringing together mayors from 17 cities and county commissioners from Ada, Canyon, and Owyhee counties. The meeting focused on the financial strain on local governments caused by state-imposed property tax limits (notably House Bill 389), the inability of growth to pay for itself, and the resulting impacts on public safety, infrastructure, and quality of life. Over 10 attendees were present in person, with additional participants online. The panel was led by TVP Chairman Trevor Chadwick (Mayor of Star) and included Mayor Rick Hogaboom (Nampa, host), Commissioner Zach Brooks (Canyon County), Mayor Joe Steer (Kuna), Mayor Eric Phillips (Caldwell), Mayor Brad Pike (Eagle), Mayor Bill Jacobs (Garden City), Mayor Robert Simonson (Meridian), and Mayor Lauren McLean (Boise).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Leanne (resident): Questioned the use of ARPA funds, suggesting they may have been used for non-essential projects. Panelists responded that ARPA funds were used for one-time capital expenses (e.g., ladder trucks, police stations, sewer infrastructure) and not for ongoing staffing, and that those funds have now been obligated and will be expended by 2026.
• Buzz Bookamp (Caldwell Rural Fire Commissioner): Expressed strong opposition to HB 389, calling it a “terrible debacle” that harms fire districts by reducing levy rates and restricting impact fees. He advocated for impact fees for school districts and criticized the difficulty of passing bonds and levies due to the 66.67% supermajority requirement. He also noted that residential property pays 70–75% of property taxes while commercial properties receive a “free ride.”
• Bob (resident): Raised concerns about safety on the greenbelt due to motorized two-wheelers (e-bikes, scooters) traveling at high speeds. He urged better enforcement and clearer regulations. Mayor McLean (Boise) noted that Boise has lowered speed limits and is pursuing changes in vehicle classification, but acknowledged enforcement is limited by funding for police. Mayor Pike (Eagle) offered to collaborate on solutions.
• Brian (resident): Criticized the lack of coordination between cities, counties, highway districts, and school districts in approving development, citing gridlock on I-84 and school overcrowding (e.g., Valley View School District). He asked if the TVP could facilitate interagency coordination. Commissioners noted that Idaho’s land-use laws limit the ability to deny development that meets criteria, and that cities and counties have different legal obligations.
• Jim Hollis (Caldwell resident): Highlighted the decline of Caldwell’s schools (Valley View School District falling from top 60 to 140 in state rankings) and the difficulty of passing school levies. He mentioned forming a citizen group, Team Caldwell, to advocate for change. He also expressed frustration with large developers shifting responsibility for school funding to levies.
• David Taney (resident): Praised the TVP’s collaborative approach but asked what specific legislative priorities the group has. Panelists answered that the current focus is on three pillars: tax policy, public safety, and infrastructure. They noted that cities are “Dillon’s Rule” entities and must seek legislative authority to change funding mechanisms.
• Elderly male resident (Caldwell area): Shared a personal story about his late wife’s disability and his daughter’s anxiety, which requires walking long distances due to lack of sidewalks and accessible shopping centers near Monarch and Ustick. He criticized the lack of pedestrian infrastructure despite fatalities and called for more commercial development within walking distance. Mayor Phillips (Caldwell) offered to meet with him offline to discuss zoning and planning.
• Nancy (Boise resident): Asked what active conversations are occurring in the legislature about limiting development. Panelists responded that the legislature is very pro-property rights and is considering a proposal that would allow property owners to subdivide single-family homes into two to four units without city approval, which could further strain infrastructure. They emphasized that such changes are beyond local control and would require legislative action.

Discussion Items

• Opening Remarks and Purpose: Mayor Chadwick explained that the TVP represents three counties and 17 cities with about 800,000 residents. The goal is to ensure growth pays for growth, protect quality of life, and maintain public safety. He noted that many small cities (165 of 197) have fewer than 5,000 people and are disproportionately affected by HB 389.
• Tax Policy (Mayor Hogaboom): Detailed the history of Idaho’s property tax system, including the 3% annual budget growth cap and the changes made by HB 389. Key points:
  • New construction is now valued at only 90% of its actual increment, reducing revenue from growth.
  • An additional hard cap of 5% on new construction revenue means cities with growth above 5% (e.g., Star) face a total maximum increase of 8% (3% base + 5% new construction), but actual service costs rise faster.
  • Expiring urban renewal districts return only 80 cents on the dollar to the city under HB 389.
  • The homeowner’s exemption was raised from $100,000 to $125,000, but the circuit breaker was means-tested.
  • Foregone capacity (unused levy authority) can now only be added to the base at 1% per year, with the rest usable only for one-time capital.
• Public Safety (Mayor Chadwick): Used Star as an example: population grew from 11,000 (2020 census) to 23,000, but property tax levy is only $2 million (on a $4.5 billion valuation), capped at 8% growth ($160,000). As a result, a new fire station sits unstaffed because a levy failed four times (58% in favor, but 66.67% required). 100% of property tax goes to police, but that covers only half of the police budget. He noted that 15 public safety levies were on the ballot statewide in November 2025, and only two passed.
• Infrastructure: Growth strains sewer, water, and road infrastructure. The state restricts funding for non-motorized projects, making it difficult to add sidewalks. Impact fees are tied to a 10-year capital plan and cannot fund ongoing operations. The reduction in ongoing revenue from HB 389 forces cities to downgrade future service levels, which in turn limits the impact fees they can collect.
• Legislative Advocacy: The TVP is working on a bill to amend HB 389. They urged citizens to sign up at treasurevalleypartnership.org to receive calls to action, emphasizing that personal letters to legislators are more effective than form letters.

Key Outcomes

• Call to Action: Citizens were encouraged to provide their contact information at treasurevalleypartnership.org to be notified when legislative action is needed on HB 389 reform.
• Future Meetings: The TVP plans to hold similar town halls in Ada County to reach a broader audience, accommodating scheduling conflicts (e.g., Ada County had a public hearing that night).
• Legislative Priority: The TVP is focusing on three pillars: tax policy (especially HB 389 adjustments), public safety funding, and infrastructure investment. They are preparing a bill to address the 90% new construction valuation and the 5% cap.
• Continued Collaboration: Panelists acknowledged the need for interagency coordination but noted legal constraints. They committed to working with fire districts, school districts, and citizen groups like Team Caldwell to amplify regional advocacy.