Christmas is a time for giving, and last year, the city of McCall threw its employees a $5,490 dollar Christmas party at taxpayer expense, according to records obtained by the Idaho Freedom Foundation.
City records indicate the party – referred to by city officials as a "Holiday party" – was held at the McCall Golf Club, and included $2,783 for dinner, and $2,707 for gifts and gift certificates.
The aesthetics of downtown Boise have gotten a $20,000 boost, in the form of decorations on five traffic control boxes. Acording to city records, the money came from the Neighborhood Reinvestment Grant program, the same source that was tapped for $25,000 to install 15 bike lockers downtown.
Tough times call for tough fiscal choices. So when the City of Boise grants $25,000 for 15 downtown bike lockers, some may wonder about the city’s spending priorities. After all, Boise has laid off employees and is holding several positions open at the Boise Police and Fire Departments. So why did the city install the 15 bike lockers, eight at the Capitol Terrace Garage and seven at the Eastman Garage, at the cost of more than $1,600 each?
