Hailey special election on 3% utility bill hike is May 21
By Eric Valentine
HAILEY—The city machine is doing its part to get out the vote for a special election May 21 that, if successful, will raise power bills for Hailey ratepayers and improve the quality of streets they drive, walk and do business on. From press releases to election mail fliers, the City of Hailey is trying to make it clear: Approve a power bill increase now or see the quality of local streets decrease over the next months and years.
Early voting has already begun for the election that will determine whether Hailey ratepayers will fund a number of streetscape improvements to the city’s core. The city council decided back in March to ask voters to approve increasing the so-called franchise tax, seen in Idaho Power utility bills, from 1 percent to 3 percent. The hike would result in $120,000 of additional revenue per year, upping the city’s total franchise fee revenue to $410,000 per year.
A franchise fee is something that cities can charge utility companies based on revenues garnered from local ratepayers, including businesses, tenants and landlords. Increasing this fee is a fairly common way to raise funds necessary for infrastructure and other improvements that are too expensive for existing budgets.
How much will this new tax cost you? If it’s approved, someone paying $100 a month for their power would pay $103. While that doesn’t sound too steep, the winter months can bring much higher power bills for locals, making the increase a little more significant. For instance, a $500 power bill would have another $15 tacked on. And when you consider that franchise fees also exist for Intermountain Gas, Cox Cable TV and Clear Creek Disposal, the costs start to add up, especially for businesses trying to keep expenses low or anyone living paycheck to paycheck.
But there are benefits ratepayers would reap if the initiative gets approved by a simple majority of voters. Nearly 30 different maintenance items, from police and fire station maintenance to weed abatement and street-crack filling, were identified by city staff as items requiring routine maintenance that could go underfunded depending on weather and other circumstances if no new revenue sources are found.
And when the city held town halls and conducted surveys to gauge resident opinion on what Hailey needs most, “improved maintenance of existing infrastructure” topped the list. For instance, in 2018, 5 percent of city streets received chip seal maintenance when best safety practices recommend 20 percent per year.
“Without consistent maintenance, sections of complete road failure result,” the city says in its flier.
May 21 is the last opportunity voters will have to weigh in when polls open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
Only voters living within the city limits of Hailey are eligible to vote in this election. Visit blainecounty.org and use the “Where do I vote” link to determine your voting precinct and eligibility. Early and absentee voting is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday through May 17, 2019, at the Blaine County Courthouse, 206 1st Ave. S. in Hailey.
For more information call Blaine County Elections at (208) 788-5510.