Ammon moving forward with fiber optic network

Ammon city leaders are moving ahead with plans to install a fiber optic network, and are hoping to do so without raising taxes for people who don’t want the service.

“We’re asking the judge to rule on a new financing mechanism that we designed that would allow the citizens of Ammon a choice,” said Brian Powell, the Ammon City Council president.

That “new financing mechanism” is a bond. What makes it different than normal bonds is instead of all taxpayers paying for it, only those who option into the network will pay for it.

“It’s a user fee system, its not a tax system. So there won’t be any tax dollars that go into this project at all,” said Powell.

Ammon city leaders meets with the judge Thursday, February 25 to know for sure if their plan will work. Similar opt-in bonds have been passed in other cities, but never for a fiber optic network.