RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COLLEGE TAX DISTRICT IN BONNEVILLE

COUNTY

RESOLUTION NO. 2017-4

WHEREAS, Founding father Thomas Paine stated, Government, even in its best
state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.; and,

WHEREAS, Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Marshall stated, The
power to tax is the power to destroy.; and,

WHEREAS, Former President Calvin Coolidge stated, Collecting more taxes than is
absolutely necessary is legalized robbery.; and,
WHEREAS, The Idaho Republican Party Platform states, We believe the size and
cost of government must be reduced.; and,
WHEREAS, The Idaho Republican Party Platform states, We believe the
unnecessary growth of government has a negative impact on both the conduct of business and our
individual lives.; and,
WHEREAS, The Idaho Republican Party Platform states, We support lower local
taxes. High taxes are a burden on businesses, families, and individuals.; and,
WHEREAS, BonnevilleCountyisaveritableoasisofhighereducationopportunity
and,
WHEREAS,A number of accredited colleges are available to Bonneville county residents,
including but not limited to, ISU, U of I, BYU-I, CSI, EITC, Stevens Heneger College, LDS PATHWAYS
Program; and,

WHEREAS, These institutions of higher learning offer options including education in a

classroom setting and online learning; and,

WHEREAS, The top 50 online Universities are also available to Bonneville County
residents; and,

WHEREAS, The opportunity to earn dual credits are available to all high school students
in Bonneville county for only $65/credit; and,

WHEREAS, credits at the proposed community college will cost approximately twice as
much [$130/credit] as credits offered through Idahos dual credit program and the LDS PATHWAYS
program [$68/credit]; and,

WHEREAS, The CSI extension in Idaho Falls already offers dozens of classes, and
Associates degrees in STEM, Business, and Liberal Arts with the capacity to expand if needed; and,

WHEREAS, ISU-Idaho Falls recently completed a $800,000 remodel of the Tingey

Administration building, with a goal to hire 10 new faculty, expand from 10 to 25 undergraduate
degrees, and from 6 to 15 graduate degrees, position itself as a degree completion center with more
emphasis on energy-related courses to reect a growing workforce decit at the [Idaho National] lab.
and,

WHEREAS, this tax district if approved would have power to raise property taxes up to
3% per year, and return in future years to reclaim any money not taken in any year they raised taxes by
less than 3%; and,

WHEREAS, this new college would suck almost 1 million dollars out of the county
economy every year, add a total tax burden from all tax sources of approximately 14 million dollars
and require the hiring of over 200 new government employees; and

WHEREAS, the touted economic benets of the college operate on the principle that
creating a bigger state educational bureaucracy is good for the economy which ies in the face of the
Republican principle that the government which governs best is the government which governs least;
and

WHEREAS, if this college tax district is established there is no guarantee that it will not
engage in controversial and divisive activities beyond the scope of its educational mission like CSI did
when it established the CSI refugee center; and,

WHEREAS, a community college in Bonneville County is not needed because of the

multitude of opportunities already available, is not wanted because of the ever-increasing taxes it
would inevitably bring, and adds no justiable value for the taxes it would continually demand,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Bonneville County Republican Central
Committee, oppose the creation of a new taxing district and associated Community College in
Bonneville County.

DATED this 13th day of April, 2017.