Risch to announce 1-day special session

BOISE – Idaho Gov. Jim Risch has scheduled press conferences for today in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls and Boise to call an August special session of the Legislature on property tax reform.

“You will see specific legislation,” Risch said Monday, promising to release his proposal in bill form today.

Risch has been negotiating with legislators to eliminate the current $3 per $1,000 property tax levy that funds basic school operations and make up the school funding with an increased sales tax and some money from the state budget surplus. He’s called for a one-day special session on Aug. 25, a Friday, to approve his plan.

Democrats have objected strongly, saying the Risch plan will simply shift taxes to low- and middle-income Idahoans who spend more of their money on necessities like groceries that are subject to the sales tax. They’ve proposed an alternative plan that would use surplus funds to eliminate the school operations levy only for homeowners.

They’ve also objected to a special session, saying it allows little public input. “The Republicans are trying to ram this issue through for their special-interest friends,” said Jerry Brady, the Democratic candidate for governor.

Risch’s plan would give property tax relief to all classes of property owners, including utilities, businesses and farms as well as landlords and homeowners. Lawmakers debated similar proposals repeatedly this year, but while several passed the House, they failed in the Senate.

Risch said current legislators – who face an election before they convene again in January – have held extensive public hearings on the issue, and are ready to vote on it. “It is a process that started over a year and a half ago,” he said.