The use of the word mansion to describe an official residence for the head of state is rather misleading. We don't call the White House the President's mansion even though it more clearly meets the definition of a mansion than most states governor's residences do. We refer to our elected officials as public servants, and even servants are given living quarters. Where do you propose the governor live during his or her term in office?

In a state the size of Idaho, there is nothing at all extravagant or elitist about a governor having access to a jet or helicopter to make the most efficient use of his time. As long as he isn't using the jet to take his wife out for dinner in San Francisco, I don't have a problem with modernity.

I don't think this column "sided with the leaseholders," and instead pointed out the complexities of the issue. Here it is, in full:

The cabin lease debate will resume Tuesday morning, when the state Land Board discusses 2008 rates for Payette Lake leases.

Representatives of the Payette Lake Cabin Owners board came in Wednesday to make their presentation to the editorial board. I have to admit, they have a stronger case than I expected.

* The 169 leaseholders are feeling the effects of rapidly increasing property values. If anything, they are worse off than landowners. If a property's value doubles, a property tax bill doesn't necessarily double. But when the value of a lease site doubles, the rental will double, since the rent is based on 2.5 percent of appraised value.

A case in point: Jim Young, the president of the cabin owners' board, said his 2001 rental, for a lot with 100 feet of lake frontage, was $13,225. The 2008 rental is on pace to exceed $49,000.

* The rates are out of line with neighboring states. Recently, the Land Board offered up a pair of leases on North Idaho's Priest Lake, but had no takers. The reason, say cabin holders: The state's proposed rent was twice as high as the highest rental rate on Montana's Flathead Lake.

* The rapidly rising rental rates have also dried up the market for cabin owners looking to sell. Twenty-four of the cabins were on the market this year, Young said, also with no takers.

With all the leases up for renewal in 2010, the cabin owners are hoping for long-term relief. They hold 10-year leases and get first shot at renewal, and would like the Legislature to establish 49-year leases - in other words, the same special deal lawmakers extended to Tamarack resort developers a couple of years ago.

I'm torn. Part of me wouldn't mind seeing legislators squirm under the precedent they created with the Tamarack deal. But should the state let leaseholders lock in a lakefront site for 49 years at a time, with a right of first refusal that lets no other bidder in on the action?

In the short run, Payette cabin holders want a rollback to 2006 rates. For Young, that would equate to about a $25,000 rental next year.

The Constitution sets broad policy to manage endowment lands, such as the cabin sites, for "maximum long-term financial return." State code says long-term return is "best obtained through stable leases at market rent."

The Constitution and code are not at cross purposes. The trick is in how the state sets up the leasing system and the rental rates. That question falls to the five-member Land Board - Gov. Butch Otter, Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, Controller Donna Jones and State Schools Superintendent Tom Luna.

David Leroy, a Boise lawyer and former attorney general, is representing the cabin holders. He says he hasn't counted votes to see how Tuesday's meeting will go.

The outcome should be interesting. Otter, Luna and Jones, elected a year ago, are new to the Land Board, and face an intriguing decision.

Kevin Richert
editorial page editor

But remember, we ARE talking about Idaho lawmakers.

Now that Allred has declared his candidacy the housing issue will once again be moot. He has his own place.

So in option 2, you want to provide an allowance for anyone to pay for a place in downtown, but if I already have a place in say Kuna, then I don't get the allowance?

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So I get the allowance and I pay for a shack in the ghetto where all the good pimps live- and I pocket the difference. Is that okay???

My shack is definitely not suitable for entertaining lobbists and other political riff-raff, so now the state gets to pay for renting an event venue... is that okay?

makes a lot of sense

costs of renting will always go up but with the residence most of the costs are fixed
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part one
Costs of renting will always go up.... most landowners I know forget to include an automatic increase in their lease agreements. And I know of many who are charging the SAME rent as they were 10 years ag- just because the tenant stays.

residence most costs are fixed
ever heard of a remodel? Roof work? Repairs? That's like saying with owning a car most costs are fixed and therefore better than leasing.

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granted long-term ownership is usually better (albeit the the current RE market shows timing and market can prove differently) but your reasons are weak.

Extend that to the "keep it for now as selling in this market is stupid" statement.
Not always true. Anyone who believes selling in a down market is automaticly a stupid choice, deserves to incur their pain.

I don't think the remodel changed the house's primary function as a home, so it would need to be remodeled again to become functional for weddings and the like, at which point it would lose its functional purpose as the govenor's mansion. Add to that liability insurance and some type of supervisory staff and/or security detail to make sure the place doesn't get thrashed by drunken revelers. For weddings and private parties to be profitable, you would need to book the place almost every weekend, which might not be feasible, especially in the winter months when there are fewer weddings. By profitable I mean taking in enough revenue to offset the cost of owning the house. People don't just book a reception hall over the phone without seeing it and looking over the lease contract, so you are probably also looking at having an office on the premises. What about parking for large groups? Endless details to think about, and they all cost money before you can make any money.