Rankin Differs With Educators Over Initiative Says State Panel’s Dire Budget Predictions Are Scare Tactics

A report from the state Board of Education released this week predicts severe cutbacks in educational funding and services if the One Percent Initiative is approved by voters in November.

But the initiative’s sponsor says it appears to be a scare tactic - similar to the statements used four years ago to defeat a similar property tax-limiting initiative.

“What they are doing is using premises that they know are false,” said One Percent Initiative sponsor Ron Rankin, Coeur d’Alene. “They are doing this to scare people like they did in 1992.”

The board’s statement predicted “broad cutbacks in services for college and university students, disabled Idahoans, the deaf and blind and library patrons” if the initiative is approved.

It quoted the state Tax Commission as estimating that if the initiative had been in effect in 1996, it would reduce property tax revenues for local schools by $228 million.

But that’s extremely unlikely. Gov. Phil Batt, who opposes the initiative, has said if the initiative passes, it will be a tax shift, not a tax cut. Batt says if the initiative is approved, other taxes will have to be increased.

Rankin contends that growth in state revenue, currently about $1.4 billion per year, will make up for some of the loss of property tax revenue.

But education officials argue there could be major cutbacks.

“We’re not talking about cutting fat,” said Board President Carole McWilliam. “We’re talking about major reductions in the services the government provides to people.”

The board asked each college, university and agency under its control to estimate what would happen if no new taxes were passed to replace lost property tax revenue.

The University of Idaho said the worst-case scenario would mean a cut of 2,900 students at the school, with faculty and staff reduced by one-fourth. New President Bob Hoover said the initiative would “seriously threaten both the quality and breadth of programs the university offers.”

Hoover said even if new taxes were imposed to offset some of the loss, “we are talking about such large numbers we would still be doing the same thing. We can’t make any continued cuts across the board - we would have to look at programs and activities in a more comprehensive way.”

Other estimates:

College of Southern Idaho: Reduce student services, faculty and staff by one-third, cut enrollment the same, reduce community, cultural and athletic activities by one-third.

Idaho State University: One-third cut in faculty and enrollment.

Boise State University: 78 percent fee increase.

North Idaho College: Deep cuts in faculty and staff; less enrollment, increased class sizes, elimination of some programs and many services.

The Division of Vocational Education estimated it would have to make cuts equivalent to closing three of the state’s six technical colleges, eliminating up to 51 programs that train students for specific careers. Idaho Public Television would cut “Going the Distance,” which provides over-the-air broadcasts of courses for continuing education and other telecourses that apply to degrees.

The State School for the Deaf and Blind would have to eliminate early intervention services for 150 deaf and blind children through the outreach program.