Rep. Darrell Bolz, R-Caldwell, said Gov. Butch Otter has a compliance initiative aimed at closing what the state Tax Commission estimates as a $67 million annual "tax gap" in taxes due, but not collected. "What we're trying to do in this tight economic time is to increase revenue as much as possible, and here's the opportunity to try to decrease that tax gap," Bolz said. Otter originally recommended spending another $1.5 million on the effort next year, but the JFAC plan takes that a step further toward his eventual plan, adding another $1.8 million next year.

"We want to commend the gentleman on the second floor and his Tax Commission ... for wanting to address this tax gap," Jaquet said. "We know that there's a concern about diminishing returns." So, she said, the additional spending is one-time, and is phased in by quarter in the coming year, with extensive reporting requirements to allow its impact to be evaluated. "Evaluating it on a quarterly basis is much more prudent and will hold this process accountable," Jaquet said.