Moscow mayor says he won’t run for reelection

This story has been updated from its original version. Chick-fil-A will maintain its location at the University of Idaho Student Union Building and open a second location at the former Sangria restaurant building in the Palouse Mall parking lot.

MOSCOW -- Moscow Mayor Art Bettge gave his final state of the city address Wednesday, which detailed concerns about property taxes, updates on construction projects, and information on a new Chick-fil-A restaurant.

Bettge announced he will not run for reelection as he addressed community members during a Moscow Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Best Western Plus University Inn.

When talking about the city budget, the mayor lamented the small amount of property taxes the city receives relative to its population. Half of Moscow is exempt from property taxes and he said the city will only receive $7.7 million in property taxes in 2025. The Moscow Police Department alone costs $7.4 million to run, he said.

He said Idaho’s tax laws that limit the amount of property tax revenue the city receives is “an albatross around our neck.”

Bettge said homeowners are paying an unequal share of the property tax burden in Moscow. He said homeowners pay 71% of the property taxes in the city while commercial properties only pay 29%. The tax burden used to be split evenly in the early 2000s, he said.

Bettge said Rep. Lori McCann, R-Lewiston, recently introduced a bill in the Idaho Legislature to bump up the homeowner’s tax deduction from $125,000 to $225,000, but that got shot down. Bettge encouraged people to reach out to lawmakers and ask them to support a higher tax deduction.

Moscow can expect at least two noteworthy commercial properties this year, with the opening of a Home Depot store and a new Chick-fil-A restaurant.

Chick-fil-A, which has a location at the University of Idaho Student Union Building that will remain open, will open a second location at the former Sangria restaurant building in the Palouse Mall parking lot.

Moscow City Administrator Bill Belknap told the Daily News on Wednesday that Chick-fil-A has submitted building plans that are under review and almost approved. He said construction will likely take place this spring or summer.

The city is also taking on big construction projects, including a $7.2 million effort to expand and renovate the city shop.

The city shop on Van Buren Street was built in 1968 and is where Moscow stores and maintains its fleet of vehicles and other equipment. Bettge said it is too small and outdated for the city’s fleet and employees. Half of the project cost will be paid by American Rescue Act Funds. It is expected to be completed in early 2026.

Moscow wants to update its downtown streets, curbs and sidewalks, which were last updated 44 years ago, Bettge said. However, he said the city does not have the $26 million needed to take on the whole project at once. That is why it is going to initiate “small micro-projects” to address streetscape issues one at a time, he said.

“Because that is the center of the community,” he said.

Bettge also gave an update on the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport and said it is still trying to bring in more airlines and flights to its new terminal, “but that’s a slow uphill push.”

“All we can do is go out and make nice with the airlines and say, ‘Please, we’ve got flying public here. Bring more flights to us.’ ”

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.