Local News
Setting the Record Straight and Moving Forward
Harris Ranch residents and community members have raised questions about the source of Your Baber Valley, and we wish to clarify the source of this website. Your Barber Valley is a community resource provided by friends of Harris Ranch. We aim to respond to rumors and hollow rhetoric with simple facts that are credible and cited.
The Harris family has been exemplary citizens of Boise and the Barber Valley for some 70 years. For the last two years, the Harris Family, Barber Valley Development, and LeNir have endured false and defamatory accusations by the Harris Ranch Community Infrastructure District Taxpayers Association (HRCIDTA) and their efforts to cast a shadow over the development. We cannot allow a one-sided, false narrative to be perpetrated by a handful of misguided individuals.
It is not only our opinion that the HRCIDTA’s narrative is false; an Ada County Court judge dismissed 16 of 16 claims brought by Bill Doyle, Larry Crowley, and the HRCIDTA. Yet, after every claim they brought before the court and an attempt to retry the case were both denied, the HRCIDTA appealed to the Idaho Supreme Court, extending the earliest timeline to resolution at least into late 2024. Crucially, as the CID Board uses CID funds to pay for its legal defense, no matter which way the suit is settled, homeowners will have lost at least $700,000 from CID coffers that could have been spent in their neighborhood. Furthering the damage to homeowners, the costs that the HRCIDTA litigation has caused the CID to incur are accruing interest at 10.5%, wasting more homeowner dollars with every passing day.
We know the residents of Harris Ranch want to see the development completed, as laid out in the Harris Ranch Specific Plan nearly 20 years ago. Despite the continuous attempts to block progress in Harris Ranch, the project is moving forward. All entities involved with developing Harris Ranch are working with the City of Boise to resume planning and related pre-construction efforts on major amenities in Harris Ranch, including Alta Harris Park, Murray Ponds, and the Harris Ranch Town Center. Regarding Alta Harris Park, while the city of Boise owns the property and is responsible for building the park, Harris Ranch is voluntarily assisting with development and is in discussion to aid in financing to ensure Alta Harris Park has a path to completion.
Restarting planning efforts despite the ongoing litigation is a vote of confidence that the lawsuits surrounding the CID will be resolved and the projects brought to fruition. Resuming the planning process now ensures that when the HRCID litigation is resolved and funds are made available, construction can begin immediately.
Possible CID Settlement: HRCIDTA Ignored Offer to cut CID Taxes by 50%
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. (more…)
Are Contributions to the HRCIDTA Tax Deductible?
In its on-going efforts to disrupt operations of the Harris Ranch Community Infrastructure District (HRCID), the Harris Ranch CID Taxpayers’ Association (HRCIDTA) has reportedly financed its efforts with funds raised from neighbors in the HRCID. In their communications and materials, the HRCIDTA has represented that it is a 501(c)(3) and, with this status, any donations to the cause are tax deductible. Those who have contributed to the HRCIDTA may want to check with their CPA or other financial/tax advisor to determine whether this is, in fact, the case.
Per the Internal Revenue Service:
“To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.
“The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and no part of a section 501(c)(3) organization’s net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.”
In its legal filings, the HRCIDTA’s describes its purpose as:
“To represent the collective and mutual interest homeowners in our neighborhood before the City Council of Boise, ID and the Harris Ranch CID Board of Directors regarding property tax issues that are unique to our neighborhood and economically affect hundreds of homeowners.”
Based on this description and the HRCIDTA’s actions to date, it appears the HRCIDTA’s mission is solely to benefit only homeowners in the Harris Ranch CID.
Your Barber Valley is not a tax or financial advisor and is not providing tax or financial advice to anyone. Homeowners contributing to the HRCIDTA would be wise to consult their own qualified tax and financial advisors regarding whether contributions to the HRCIDTA are tax-deductible on their own financial filings.
18 Months in and No End in Sight: A Timeline of Litigation Against the Harris Ranch CID
As the litigation surrounding the Harris Ranch Community Infrastructure District (HRCID) is well into its second year in the judicial system, one can be excused for losing track of the lawsuits, appeals, stays, judicial reviews, and other legal actions that continue to obstruct progress in the community. These are complex issues and moving through the court system takes time as issues are considered thoroughly and thoughtfully. To provide background for those who are not legal experts or may not have the time to research the issue in granular detail, this article will summarize the past, current, and expected legal action brought by the Harris Ranch Community Infrastructure District Taxpayers’ Association to lay out in plain terms how the process has progressed over the past eighteen months. 
The Parties
First, it is helpful to understand who is on either side of the legal proceedings. The petitioners are the parties that file complaints in the form of lawsuit or other legal action. The respondents are the parties defending against the allegations.
The Petitioners
There are three parties filing the lawsuits. First, the Harris Ranch Community Infrastructure District Taxpayers’ Association (HRCIDTA). Bill Doyle and Larry Crowley, officers of the HRCIDTA, are also named as petitioners in the legal filings.
The Respondents
The respondents are the Harris Ranch Community Infrastructure District Board (HRCID Board), and the lawsuit names the three members of the Board at the time of the filing: Councilor Holli Woodings, (now former) Councilor TJ Thomson, and (now former) Councilor Elaine Clegg. The Harris Family Limited Partnership (HFLP) joined the respondents by filing a motion to intervene, meaning they are listed as an intervenor in the legal proceedings and are treated as co-respondents in the lawsuit.
Timeline
As there have been several lawsuits, motions, briefs, and other legal action, it is easiest to see the whole picture from the start. Below are two timelines, which outline the key dates in each lawsuit filed by the HRCIDTA, including descriptions for context.
ROUND ONE – HRCIDTA Files Claims against HRCID Board and HFLP
October 5th, 2021– The CID Board held a regular meeting and adopted two resolutions, one to approve reimbursements to the developer for projects built and one to issue a bond to finance the payments.
December 3, 2021 – Bill Doyle, Larry Crowley, and the HRCIDTA filed a petition for judicial review alleging claims against the Harris Ranch CID Board and its members related to the October 2021 resolutions. HFLP petitioned to intervene to join the HRCID Board in countering the claims, which was opposed by HRCIDTA (an unusual move that delayed the proceedings and added cost). The judge granted the HFLP motion.
April 19, 2022 – HRCIDTA filed a motion to stay, or pause, actions related to October 5th CID Board meeting until final resolution of the judicial proceeding. This was denied in August of 2022 as the judge found that the HRCIDTA would not suffer harm in the absence of a stay.
October 21, 2022 – After HRCIDTA asked (and ultimately received) permission to exceed briefing timelines and length, an opening brief from HRCIDTA details their legal arguments for bringing the case and the remedies they seek.
November 18, 2022 – Respondent’s and intervenor’s briefs are filed, rebutting the claims brought by the plaintiffs by presenting facts, relevant legal issues, and arguments as to why the claims are not merited.
December 22, 2022 – HRCIDTA files a reply to the respondent’s and intervenor’s briefs.
January 5, 2023 – HRCIDTA files a motion to strike portions of the respondent’s and intervenor’s briefs. This motion was denied by the court.
January 19, 2023 – Both sides delivered oral arguments in Ada County court, presenting their cases directly to the judge.
January 31, 2023 – HRCIDTA files a motion to strike supplemental citations supplied by HFLP after the January 19, 2023 hearing. This motion was denied by the court.
April 25, 2023 – An Ada County judge issued a ruling in favor of the HRCID Board and HFLP, denying all sixteen claims brought by the HRCIDTA, Mr. Doyle, and Mr. Crowley.
Presently, the HRCIDTA has indicated publicly that they plan to appeal the judge’s decision. In an apparent effort to buy more time, on May 12, the HRCIDTA, Crowley, and Doyle asked the judge for a rehearing. Only four days later, on May 16, they then asked for a stay (a pause) on the deadline for the briefing required for the judge to decide if a rehearing is warranted. Currently, it is unclear if HRCIDTA plans to appeal or see through their request for a rehearing.
ROUND TWO – HRCIDTA Files Judicial Review on 2022 HRCIDA Board Decisions
February 21, 2023 – The CID Board held a regular meeting and adopted resolutions to approve reimbursements to the developer for projects in addition to those approved in October 2021.
April 14, 2023 – Separately from the previous timeline, the HRCIDTA, Crowley, and Doyle filed a petition for judicial review that is nearly identical to the case they recently lost.
May 17, 2023 – The HRCIDTA, Crowley, and Doyle filed a motion to stay the lawsuit they brought only a month prior. The request to stay the second lawsuit was argued before an Ada County Judge on June 7, 2023 and is currently under advisement.
Next Steps
Each of the dates above represent another marker on, to date, a long journey to nowhere. As the court proceedings continue, and the HRCIDTA has publicly stated that they plan to appeal the judge’s April ruling, a pattern is emerging. The HRCIDTA has yet to find success with any of their claims–from the primary lawsuits to the minor motions to strike. Yet the steady stream of litigation continues.