The big six

Property tax

With growing concerns about rising property taxes, especially from homeowners, a legislative interim committee held a dozen public hearings over the summer and recommended major reforms.

Where things stand: Six House-passed property tax relief bills went to the Senate, where all survived with mostly minor amendments. The package includes raising the homeowner’s exemption, shifting half of school operations funding off property taxes and raising the sales tax by half a cent, expanding the “circuit breaker” exemption for the low-income elderly and disabled and allowing some of them to defer taxes until they die, and eliminating a loophole for rural land speculators.

School construction

The Idaho Supreme Court in December declared the state’s system for funding school construction unconstitutional, and ordered lawmakers to fix a system that now relies on local property taxpayers.

Where things stand: The House passed a GOP leadership bill to put about $5 million in new money into school maintenance, fully fund a bond matching program in the future that was approved three years ago, and set up a $25 million loan fund to replace unsafe schoolhouses. However, to access the loan fund, a school district would have to be taken over by the state, a supervisor appointed who could fire its superintendent, and a no-vote property tax hike imposed on its patrons after they’d twice voted specifically against the increase. The bill is now pending in the Senate State Affairs Committee.

Prisons/Crime

Prisons are overflowing, and the state shipped more than 300 inmates out of state at a cost of $6 million a year. Meanwhile, lawmakers and state officials want to crack down on sex offenders, and impose much longer sentences.

Where things stand: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a budget for the Department of Correction that contains a 17 percent increase in general funds, a $20 million boost. That includes contracting with a private provider to build a new 400-bed treatment facility. Another $16 million was approved separately for a 350-bed medium-security prison expansion. Meanwhile, tough bills lengthening sentences for an array of offenses from sex crimes to drunken driving are moving through the Legislature. Legislation to imprison pregnant women who use drugs was killed in a House committee.

Road construction

Last year, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne pushed lawmakers to approve his $1.2 billion “Connecting Idaho” plan.

Where things stand: JFAC approved a bonding plan totaling $200 million for the next three years, down from Kempthorne’s recommended $218 million for the next two years. Removed from the plan was more than $36 million in right-of-way acquisition for a new freeway from Coeur d’Alene to Sandpoint. But the committee has been negotiating changes and will reconsider the plan on Wednesday.

Budget

Idaho has a projected $214 million budget surplus to start off its budget-setting decisions this year.

Where things stand: Legislative budget writers have set most of the state budget, including the first $1 billion-plus public school budget. For the first time in years, inflation costs are being funded. State employees got merit raises averaging 3 percent in February. A decision on the governor’s $30 million-plus parks initiative was delayed.

Education

The State Board of Education wants to require more math and science for high school students to graduate as part of a “redesign” of the curriculum. Where things stand: The redesign plan remains in limbo. A resolution calling for studying the issue for a year passed the House and awaits the full Legislature’s decision. The school budget approved includes funding for 3 percent raises for all school district employees and an increase in the minimum teacher salary to $30,000.