Idaho's state Tax Commission is giving its budget presentation to lawmakers this morning, and Commissioner David Langhorst said the initiative to step up collections of already-owed taxes has paid off in a big way for the state. In fiscal year 2012, the effort, which includes adding auditors, cost $1.4 million, and brought in $20.5 million in new revenue, Langhorst said; that's a 14.7 to 1 return. In fiscal year 2011, it's cost $1.5 million and brought in $26.3 million, a 17.1 to 1 return. Projections for this year are that the effort will cost $845,978 and bring in another $8.6 million, a 10.2 to 1 return.

"Any time you can put a dollar into something and get a $14 return, it tells you something," Langhorst told JFAC. "We've phased those in and made the positions permanent. ... These benefits will be ongoing. ... When we have resources to do it, we will find ways to bring returns to the state."

Langhorst said 84 percent of Idahoans pay their taxes voluntarily and on time. "When they know that we're going after those who don't, that increases voluntary compliance," he said. "The more we do that, the more fair it is to everybody."

For next year, the Tax Commission is requesting to make temporary staff added this year permanent, at an annual cost of $817,300; that includes 13.5 positions in audits and colelctions and three in revenue operations. Outgoing Tax Commission Chairman Bob Geddes, former Senate president pro-tem, said, "Great strides have been made to maximize efficiency and tax compliance."