In a previous article, we cited a BoiseDev story that alluded to a settlement offer it was looking into that would ostensibly end the litigation brought by the Harris Ranch CID Taxpayers’ Association against Barber Valley Development, the Harris Family Limited Partnership, and the Harris Ranch CID Board. While BoiseDev may not yet have received a response to its public records request, Your Barber Valley has confirmed the existence of that offer.
On Thursday, July 13, Barber Valley Development circulated a signed settlement offer that would reduce CID taxes for all residents in the Harris Ranch CID by ten percent per year for each of the next five years, resulting in a 50% yearly reduction in payments. The condition of the offer was that pending litigation be dropped and that approved and outstanding bonds be funded. The offer was contingent upon Harris Ranch CID Board approval, which would in turn require discussion at a public meeting of the HRCID. The offer was sent to Larry Crowley, President of the HRCIDTA, with a response requested by Tuesday, July 18.
The offer would have been a compromise that would allow progress in Harris Ranch to continue, funding amenities stalled by more than two years due to the litigation. Under the terms of the offer, progress could indeed have restarted, albeit at a slower pace with fewer dollars in CID coffers to fund improvements.
The offer was not accepted, declined, or even negotiated because the HRCIDTA refused to review the offer until a confidentiality agreement was signed by all parties that restricted disclosure of even the fact that settlement discussions were even taking place. In other words, the HRCIDTA wanted to shield the existence of the offer and the possibility of settlement negotiations from the other homeowners in the HRCID who are affected by those discussions. The demand for confidentiality is also inconsistent with the need for review and approval by the HRCID Board at a public meeting.
It is unclear as to why Crowley, Doyle and HRCIDTA leadership would demand secrecy around the negotiations or allow neighbors to know such negotiations might happen. To our knowledge, the offer has not surfaced as a topic in HRCIDTA social media posts on the CID situation; instead, the HRCIDTA is continuing to pursue the matter to the Idaho Supreme Court based on a district court decision that soundly rejected each and every one of their claims. Residents are left to draw their own conclusions as to why the HRCIDTA would insist on shielding the possibility of settlement and a 50% reduction in yearly CID payments from public view.
