Fee For Restaurants Gets Broiled Plan Would Fund Inspections By Charging Eateries $55 A Year

A plan to charge Idaho restaurants $55 a year to pay for better restaurant inspections came in for heavy criticism Monday in the Legislature’s budget committee.

“This is a perfect example of creeping government,” said Sen. Stan Hawkins, R-Ucon.

“I’m against anything that raises taxes,” said Sen. Mel Richardson, R-Idaho Falls.

But when The Spokesman-Review informally surveyed members of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee afterward, a majority favored the modest fee.

“That’s not going to make or break anyone,” said Sen. Claire Wetherell, D-Mountain Home. “I don’t know why they’re objecting to it. I think it’s a good idea for our protection.”

Last year, the Legislature rejected the idea of using state money to pay for stepped up inspections. This year, the Health & Welfare Department isn’t asking for state money. It merely wants authority to spend the money it would collect in fees.

Gov. Phil Batt has signed on to the idea, and recommended approval in his proposed budget.

The state now requires restaurants to be inspected once a year, but has few resources to get the job done. Each inspector is responsible for about 560 restaurants or other food establishments each year.

Under the new program, H&W would contract with Idaho’s seven health districts, and they would do the inspections. Food handlers and inspectors also would get more training. The entire $55 fee would go to the health districts for inspections.

Several lawmakers favored a fee that varied with the size of the business, rather than a flat $55. But H&W health division administrator Dick Schultz said that would cost far more to administer.

Larry Belmont, director of the Panhandle Health District, said late Monday that Idaho is one of only a couple of states that doesn’t require restaurants to pay any licensing fee.

“The barbers pay a fee, the butchers pay a fee, everyone pays some kind of fee to contribute toward their profession. So I don’t think this is out of line to expect the food industry to be involved,” he said.

The Spokesman-Review’s informal survey showed 11 of the budget committee’s 20 members in favor of the plan and seven opposed. Two weren’t available.

, DataTimes