Letter: What’s so great about Greater Idaho?

Published 6:15 am Thursday, August 10, 2023

To the Editor:

There are no financial incentives and no guarantee of a greater political voice for Grant County residents in the “Greater Idaho.”

What’s greater? A 6% sales tax.

What’s less? Minimum wage.

What’s greater? Prices that businesses will pass on to customers to cover the 6% sales tax.

What’s less? The amount of spending power as a result of these higher prices.

What’s greater? The amount of tax paperwork/preparation and associated costs for business owners.

What’s less? Consumers will cut spending in local businesses because of a 6% sales tax (and possibly a lower minimum wage age).

What’s greater? More business will flow to online retailers as consumers seek to stretch their spending on core items.

What’s less? Spending at local grocery stores, local pharmacy on prescriptions, etc.

What’s greater? Liberal voters concentrated in Boise, Moscow, Sun Valley, and other urban areas in Idaho that are experiencing an inflow of knowledge workers will have similar voting power and political voice as the west side of Oregon.

What’s less? The voting power and political voice of rural residents in the ongoing urban boom in Idaho.

The westernmost counties in a Greater Idaho will be spending their non-discretionary dollars in Western Oregon counties, an even greater economic drain and transfer of wealth to the west side of Oregon.

All this in exchange for what?

John H. Van Gundy

John Day