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Nic Isn’t Included In Initiative Lance Says Idaho Wouldn’t Have To Cover College’s Costs

From Staff And Wire Reports

The state would not have to take over the $9 million cost of operating community colleges like North Idaho College if the One Percent Initiative passes this fall.

That’s what Attorney General Al Lance said in a nonbinding legal opinion of the proposition released late Thursday.

His analysis was requested by state Sen. Hal Bunderson, R-Meridian.

The text of the initiative does not use the term “community colleges,” Lance said. The state’s two community colleges - with campuses in Twin Falls, Jerome and Kootenai counties - aren’t automatically included because they are public education.

On its own this year, however, the Legislature took over some portion of funding NIC. The remaining $4.5 million now is covered by Kootenai County property taxes.

Lance’s 29-page opinion also concluded that money for public school buildings would have to come from the state treasury instead of property taxes, under the initiative. School districts would still have the opportunity to obtain voter approval of facilities bonds.

And while the initiative calls for public schools to be fully supported by non-property tax revenues, it does not guarantee funding will remain at current levels, Lance said.

“It neither identifies the source of funding nor does it appropriate any money to replace local property tax revenues for schools,” Lance wrote.

Gov. Phil Batt has said passage of the initiative likely would lead the Legislature to increase sales or income taxes.

Initiative author Ron Rankin of Coeur d’Alene has argued it would merely encourage the state to prioritize spending.

Efforts to reach Rankin were unsuccessful Thursday.

Lance also said passage would not immediately limit property taxes to 1 percent of taxable value. Additional legislation would be required to implement the cap.

And implementation, itself, would be difficult, Lance said, because the initiative fails to provide a method to set local tax levies. Without that mechanism, the cap could not be enforced.

, DataTimes