Here’s a link to my full story on today’s budget hearing in JFAC on the public schools budget – the single largest piece of Idaho’s state budget, at 48 percent of the general fund. Superintendent Sherri Ybarra told lawmakers Thursday that funding the third year...
The co-chairs of the Legislature’s joint budget committee gave state Superintendent Sherri Ybarra generally high marks for her public school budget pitch to lawmakers today, and said she’s come a long way from her first, truncated budget pitch to JFAC three years ago. Back then,…
Here’s the full AP story on the two tax cut bills introduced this morning in House Rev & Tax: By Kimberlee Kruesi BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho lawmakers ushered in the first tax cut proposals of the 2017 legislative session on Thursday with the hope…
Here’a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how 18 members of the Idaho House, including five from North Idaho, voted against a routine income tax bill Thursday over same-sex marriage issues, though the measure must pass before Idahoans can start filing their state…
The House and Senate Health & Welfare committees will hold a joint public hearing tomorrow morning, starting at 8 a.m., on health and welfare issues in Idaho, and are inviting all who are interested to come and testify. Public testimony will be limited to three…
On a cold night in November, a state contracted service “could have led to the death of a special needs child,” according to documents obtained by Idaho Reports. After a medical appointment, a driver with a transportation company for Medicaid clients dropped off a teenager…
The Idaho House has voted 52-18 in favor of HB 26, the annual IRS conformity bill, though several members spoke out against conforming the state’s tax code with federal rules on grounds that a now-invalidated clause in the Idaho Constitution forbids same-sex marriage, which the...
U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson will step down on Feb. 25, according to Idaho Reports. She’s served as Idaho’s U.S. attorney for the past six years, and has worked for almost 20 years in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, writes Idaho Public TV reporter Seth Ogilvie in…
After her budget pitch to state lawmakers today, state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra said, “I felt very supported – they’re very supportive of education and our students.” “This is my third session,” she said. “It was relaxing, it was enjoyable.” The difference from her first…
Idaho lawmakers have ushered in the first tax cut proposals of the 2017 legislative session. House Majority Leader Mike Moyle says that he wants to exempt the first $750 of income from taxation, as well as reduce the top income and corporate rate from 7.4 percent to 7.2 percent. Meanwhile, Rep. Janet Trujillo, a Republican from Idaho Falls, has...
Legislative budget writers had sharp questions for the governor’s school budget analyst, David Hahn, this morning on Gov. Butch Otter’s recommendation to set aside $15 million for health benefits increases in the public school budget. “Would this be added to that budget – would this…
Overall, state school Superintendent Sherri Ybarra told JFAC this morning, she’s requesting more than $1.679 billion in state general funds for Idaho’s public schools next year (not counting services for the deaf and blind, which will be presented next). Her request reflects an increase of…
Idaho’s new teacher evaluation system is in the midst of being implemented, state school Superintendent Sherri Ybarra told legislative budget writers this morning. “Deciding on and designing a model is the critical first phase, but implementation is hard and requires dedicated resources over time, any…
“These students don’t see technology any more as a separate tool – it’s completely integrated into their lives and what they’re doing,” state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra told JFAC, as she outlined her request for an $8 million increase in state funding for classroom technology...
So many students have been taking advantage of advanced opportunities in school that state Schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra said she’s projecting a 71 percent increase in student participation in 2017. “In just one semester, we have already exceeded what was paid out in 2016,” she…
Reviewing the increases that the school budget received this year, state Superintendent Sherri Ybarra called the $27.3 million that lawmakers approved last year to increase discretionary funds to school district “a huge highlight.” She said it provided the crucial money school districts need for such…
State schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra told legislative budget writers this morning, “This year, we have an emphasis on return on investment.” She said, “Kindergarten through 12 education is what we do. … This plan embodies the governor’s task force recommendations, as well as the department’s…
The single largest piece of Idaho's state budget - the K-12 public schools budget - is up for its hearing before the Legislature's Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning. State schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra will be presenting it. You can watch live here.
Racing groups are urging an Idaho commission to sign off on a last-ditch effort to save their faltering industry after failing to convince the Legislature to reinstate lucrative betting machines known as instant racing terminals. John Sheldon, the operator of Les Bois, Idaho's largest horse racing track, told state racing commissioners Wednesday...
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
