Latest from The Spokesman-Review

• Eye on Boise: April tax revenue well above forecasters’ expectations

  May 12, 2013 in Idaho on Page B3 BOISE – Because Idaho budgets based on forecasts and estimates of how much tax revenue will come in, there’s always some anticipation about how revenues fare in April, the biggest … 1

• Otter signs as law limits on teachers

  April 20, 2013 in Idaho on Page A1 BOISE – Five months after Idaho voters resoundingly rejected laws limiting schoolteacher contract rights, Idaho lawmakers resurrected many of them. Gov. Butch Otter signed five controversial bills into law to … 83

• Eye on Boise: Universities get ‘small step’ toward deferred maintenance

  March 10, 2013 in Idaho on Page B3 BOISE – At the start of this year’s session, Idaho’s legislative budget writers heard a report on deferred maintenance at the state’s public universities, complete with shocking pictures showing rotting … 1

• Eye on Boise: Federal cuts get panel’s attention

  March 3, 2013 in Idaho on Page B3 BOISE – A blizzard of numbers was presented to legislative budget writers Friday on the potential impact of the federal sequestration cuts on the state. Overall, it showed a potential … 2

• Volunteers keep Idaho parks open, director tells lawmakers

  January 29, 2013 in Idaho on Page A6 BOISE – Idaho state parks are staying open thanks in part to thousands of volunteers, the state parks chief told lawmakers Monday. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation now …

• Eye on Boise: Scholarship programs need revamp

  January 27, 2013 in Idaho on Page B2 BOISE – Idaho’s state scholarship programs for college students lag far behind most states in the region. In response to a question from Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, Mike Rush, director … 1

• Funding formula for NIC gets look

  January 23, 2013 in Idaho on Page A5 BOISE – Lawmakers brought up a longtime sore spot during North Idaho College’s budget hearing at the state Legislature on Tuesday: Why does the Coeur d’Alene community college get so … 1

• Eye on Boise: Unallocated money in school budget may stay put

  January 13, 2013 in Idaho on Page B9 BOISE – Idaho lawmakers who’ve been hoping to raid Idaho’s public school budget now that voters have rejected three school-reform laws had a setback last week: Doing so would require … 1

• Eye on Boise: Hart’s Audi raises eyebrows amid bankruptcy

  August 19, 2012 in Idaho on Page B2 When tax-protesting state Rep. Phil Hart filed for bankruptcy amid federal and state claims that he owes more than half a million dollars in back taxes, penalties and interest, papers … 1

• Idaho’s school spending again ranks 50th in nation

  June 27, 2012 in Idaho Idaho’s school spending per pupil ranks 50th in the nation for a second straight year, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Census, while Washington’s is 32nd, down from … 17

• Ex-state economist says school funding may violate Idaho law

  April 14, 2012 in Idaho on Page B1 BOISE – Idaho’s former longtime chief state economist, Mike Ferguson, released a 20-page report Friday on public school funding that reaches a series of startling conclusions, including that Idaho’s current …

• Report: Idaho school funding veering from constitution

  April 13, 2012 in Idaho Idaho’s former longtime chief state economist, Mike Ferguson, released a 20-page report today on public school funding that reaches a series of startling conclusions, including that Idaho’s current school funding … 10

• Eye on Boise: Panel finishes agency budgets

  March 11, 2012 in Idaho on Page B3 BOISE – Legislative budget writers have now set all state agency budgets for next year, finishing their work by setting the Medicaid budget on Friday. In total, the Joint Finance-Appropriations … 2

• Eye on Boise: Aging state equipment enters ‘duct tape’ stage

  February 26, 2012 in Idaho on Page B3 BOISE – Gov. Butch Otter’s state budget recommendation calls for zero funding for capital replacement items, but lawmakers are concerned that some equipment replacement needs are too critical to continue …

• State workers may get 2 percent raise

  February 19, 2012 in Idaho on Page B10 BOISE – After four years without funding raises for state employees, the Idaho Legislature’s joint budget committee voted Friday to give 2 percent raises next year to every permanent state … 2

• Idaho grocers seek to ease food stamp rush

  January 17, 2012 in Idaho on Page A5 BOISE – Idaho’s grocery stores are putting up $100,000 of their own money and asking state lawmakers to change back to multiday distribution of food stamps each month, saying the …

• Otter budget doesn’t restore steep cuts

  January 11, 2012 in Idaho on Page A5 BOISE – Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s budget proposal for next year wouldn’t restore any of the steep cuts the state has made in the past three years of economic downturn, …

• Idaho gov. calls for $45 million in tax cuts

  January 10, 2012 in Idaho on Page A1 BOISE - With Idaho’s state budget flush for the first time in years, a cautious Gov. Butch Otter is calling for $45 million in tax cuts next year, a $5 … 21

• Eye on Boise: Hart tax drama extended yet again

  December 18, 2011 in Idaho on Page B3 BOISE - Tax-protesting Idaho state Rep. Phil Hart has asked for and received 30 more days to respond to federal authorities’ move to foreclose on his Athol home. The action … 1

• Idaho legislators hope for less pain in ’12

  December 2, 2011 in Idaho on Page A6 BOISE – Idaho’s headed for a different kind of legislative session in January, one marked less by painful budget cuts and more by political and philosophical battles, key lawmakers said … 2

• Idaho welcomes good news for budget

  October 26, 2011 in Idaho on Page A1 BOISE – Idaho lawmakers are facing something they haven’t seen in years: A “manageable” budget. When they convene in January, they’ll likely be able to balance next year’s state budget … 4

• Idaho’s budget outlook brightest in years

  October 25, 2011 in Idaho Idaho lawmakers are facing something they haven’t seen in years: A ‘manageable’ budget. When they convene in January, they’ll likely be able to balance next year’s state budget without further … 4

• Otter says he’ll continue low-balling state budget

  August 28, 2011 in Idaho on Page B2 BOISE - Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is promising more of the same from his administration: tight budgeting that may underestimate state revenues, forcing budget cuts that later prove unnecessary, to … 1

• Idaho gets big boost in revenue

  July 13, 2011 in Idaho on Page A5 BOISE – The final numbers are in, and after anguishing over deep budget cuts, Idaho ended the fiscal year well ahead of projections for state tax revenues, with an $85.3 …

• Idaho revenues up, Otter loses bet to Andrus

  July 12, 2011 in Idaho The final numbers are in, and after anguishing over deep budget cuts, Idaho ended the fiscal year well ahead of projections for state tax revenues, with an $85.3 million year-end … 8

• Schools could get cash infusion

  June 25, 2011 in Idaho on Page A6 NAMPA, Idaho – Idaho school districts are cautiously preparing to restore several cutbacks after being advised the state likely will distribute about $50 million in one-time payments next month if …

• Schools struggle to use student data system

  June 23, 2011 in Idaho on Page A7 NAMPA, Idaho – Idaho’s new multimillion-dollar student data system is causing giant headaches at school districts around the state, and local school officials say it isn’t working. State Superintendent of … 2

• Idaho schools could get some relief amid budget cuts

  June 22, 2011 in Idaho Idaho schools could get about $50 million in a one-time payout in July, no strings attached, if state tax revenues meet projections in the final month of the state’s fiscal … 7

• Voters approving property tax hikes to help schools

  May 21, 2011 in Idaho on Page B3 BOISE – Idahoans are voting to raise their own property taxes in the wake of a third straight year of cuts in school funding approved by state lawmakers. In elections …

• Idaho voters raise taxes for schools after lawmakers wouldn’t

  May 20, 2011 in Idaho Idahoans around the state are voting to raise their own property taxes in the wake of a third straight year of cuts in school funding approved by state lawmakers. 15

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