A 2nd District Court Judge has dismissed the city of Lewiston’s request to issue $28.5 million in bonds for a new wastewater treatment plant, meaning city officials will have to ask voters for permission to take on the debt.
Judge John Judge wrote that his decision came down to the narrow legal definition of the word “necessary.” Idaho law allows cities to incur debt in excess of their annual income and revenue only by approval of the voters. But the law makes an exception if a city can convince a judge that the project to be financed through the debt is “ordinary and necessary.” Judge said that while there is a clear need for major improvements at the city’s plant in North Lewiston, it didn’t meet the legal threshold for a “necessary” expense.
City Manager Alan Nygaard has previously said the city would try to get a bond issue on the May 21 ballot if there was an adverse ruling on the wastewater bonds. (Lewiston Tribune)
