Tax Initiative Likely To Pass If It’s On Ballot

Idaho political leaders say if a property tax-limiting initiative gets enough signatures to go on the general election ballot, it probably will pass.

If that happens, says House Speaker Michael Simpson, state and local government will lose $270 million in revenue.

He thinks the best way to head off such a drastic change would be to stop funding local school maintenance and operation through local property taxes and shift it to general state tax revenue.

He wants the session opening Monday to look at some of the options, though he concedes it’s unlikely anything will pass.

He said that would take $150 million in new revenue, or diverting money from other use, but it could be done.