Idaho
Lawsuit goes after Idaho Falls' impact fees – East Idaho News
IDAHO FALLS – A lawsuit filed against the city of Idaho Falls alleges the ordinance implementing impact fees for contractors is unlawful, excessive and detrimental to local businesses.
The Eastern Idaho Home Builders Association, which consists of about 100 business owners and home builders throughout eastern Idaho, filed the suit in October. A spokesperson for the group, who didn’t want to be named over concerns of backlash during a pending lawsuit, tells EastIdahoNews.com the way the ordinance is worded and carried out is illegal and they’re seeking changes to the law.
The purpose of impact fees is to manage growth effectively. In 2022, the city had seen a steady increase in the population and adopted the fees to help fund infrastructure improvement projects.
RELATED | Impact fees could become a way to fund growth and development projects in Idaho Falls
Developers are responsible for paying those fees when a building project gets underway, as outlined in Idaho law.
The home builders association says impact fees are being collected during the permit process, which is illegal.
“If you develop and sell lots to anyone who wants to build — whether it’s homeowners or builders — the buyer is paying those fees when they go in to get a permit,” a spokesperson for the group says.
Before adopting impact fees, the city launched an impact study to provide a long-term growth outlook and how impact fees could be applied.
EIHBA members say the city’s 75-page document supporting the fees are flawed, and the fees themselves are not directly tied to the impact of new developments.
Different groups are responsible for paying their fair share to infrastructure costs, which are outlined in a document on the city’s website.
The EIHBA alleges the ordinance imposes disproportionate fees on developers. The spokesperson cites one instance in particular when a group of developers investing in a project were required to pay $1 million in impact fees on top of other expenses. In this case, developers were “caught in the middle.”
That was one of several instances that led the association to take legal action.
“These impact fees are not just a burden on developers; they have a ripple effect throughout our community,” the EIHBA Legal Action Committee says in a news release. “Higher development costs lead to increased rent prices for businesses, which then have to raise prices on goods and services. This affects everyone — from the cost of groceries and dining out to housing affordability.”
The goal of the lawsuit, according to the spokesperson for the group, is not to do away with impact fees entirely. They’re hoping to address the errors with city officials and to work with them “to find a legally sound, equitable approach to managing growth.”
EastIdahoNews.com reached out to the city for a response, and city spokesman Eric Grossarth sent us a written statement on the city’s behalf.
“With the City of Idaho Falls facing explosive growth, there were, and continue to be, significant challenges maintaining the public’s expected level of service for public safety, roads and parks for our residents. In 2022, impact fees were adopted as one of the only tools established by the Idaho Legislature to allow growth to pay for growth, rather than new growth being subsidized by existing taxpayers.”
“The City has great confidence in the judicial system. We intend to respond to the lawsuit from the Eastern Idaho Homebuilders Association through the proper legal channels and trust that the courts can provide a fair outcome for everyone.”
An EIHBA spokesperson says the city has responded to the lawsuit. The case is now headed to mediation, where both parties will try to settle the matter out of court. If mediation is unsuccessful, the case will go to trial.
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Idaho
Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Mega Millions, Pick 3 on March 6, 2026
The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Friday, March 6, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on March 6.
Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 6 drawing
08-19-26-38-42, Mega Ball: 24
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 6 drawing
Day: 9-3-1
Night: 9-7-8
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 6 drawing
Day: 9-9-2-9
Night: 9-0-8-0
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Idaho Cash numbers from March 6 drawing
20-21-31-35-38
Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 6 drawing
04-10-29-48-50, Bonus: 03
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
- Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- 5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Idaho
Lewiston advances to title game of Idaho Class 5A boys basketball stat…
The Bengals held off the Wildcats in a game played at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
With the win, Lewiston (22-3) earned a spot in the 5A championship game, scheduled for 5 p.m. PST Saturday at the Idaho Center. The Bengals will play the winner of today’s other semifinal game between Bishop Kelly and Preston.
Lewiston will try to capture its first boys basketball state title since 2009.
This story will be updated.
Idaho
‘I’ve never seen something that big’: Boise neighbors finding rats in their backyards
BOISE, Idaho — A Boise neighbor said she trapped the largest rat she has ever seen in her backyard, and a local pest control expert said he has already responded to multiple Treasure Valley homes this year to remove the rodents. As sightings increase, Idaho lawmakers are also taking action.
Britni Killeen, who grew up on a farm in East Idaho, said nothing could have prepared her for what she found in her West Boise backyard.
WATCH: What to do if you spot a rat near your residence
Rats spotted on the Boise Bench. What experts say you should do
“I’m a 5th-generation Idahoan, and I’ve never seen something that big,” Killeen said.
Killeen believes the rats may be swimming through the Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve and making their way into nearby neighborhoods.
“We live next door to the refuge, and if you have a gap between your fence, which we do, it’s about 3 ft, they come into your yard, and they can go under fences,” explained Killeen.
Alpha Home Pest Control has served the Treasure Valley for over 10 years. Owner Mike Hill said he has been receiving weekly calls about rat sightings. While some turn out to be false alarms, he has already visited seven Treasure Valley homes this year to remove rats. Hill said many of them may be arriving from out of state and staying because of the mild weather conditions.
“Washington, California, the shipping, the freight coming back and forth, they’re kind of stowaways,” Hill said. “Then with the mild winters that we’ve been having, [it] hasn’t really been killing them off.”
RELATED | ‘It was like an explosion of rats’: Neighbors report rise in pests
Hill said Norway and Roof rats can pose serious risks to both health and property.
“They carry disease, they carry fleas, ticks, they can chew through your wiring in your home,” Hill said. “Their teeth grow very rapidly, so there have been cases where they’re up there chewing on wires, [and] the house burns down.”
If you spot a rat, Hill recommends calling a professional to ensure there are not more hiding nearby. He also offered several prevention tips.
“The droppings of the fruit, excess fruit, keep that stuff picked up. Make sure that your trash is enclosed in either a hard plastic or metal container,” Hill said.
RELATED| Rodents of Unusual Size Act advances to House after 28-3 Senate vote
As rat sightings increase across the Treasure Valley, lawmakers are taking notice. On Thursday, the Idaho Senate passed the Rodents of Unusual Size Act, which would declare Norway and roof rats a public health and safety nuisance and requires the state to take action to control and remove them. That bill now heads to the House.
Killeen said the legislation is a step in the right direction.
“Considering how big that rat is, I would definitely say so,” Killeen said. “I didn’t even know that big of rats could exist in Idaho, but maybe I’m just rural.”
This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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