Rep. Phylis King, D-Boise, left, and Boise School District Superintendent Stan Olson, right, discuss the impact of proposed state budget cuts on the Boise school district. Boise-area legislators invited Olson and other local district officials to the Capitol Annex for the discussion. House Education Chairman…
Rep. Branden Durst, D-Boise, who cast the only "no" vote in the House today on HB 61, the bill that makes the 4 percent holdbacks permanent plus adds to them, said he voted against the bill for two reasons. First, "I didn't think it was…
The Idaho Fish & Game Department has revised its proposed fee increase to make it more "modest," the department announced today. "In the light of tough economic times, Idaho Fish and Game has scaled back a proposed revenue increase to an overall 15 percent instead…
Gov. Butch Otter, who a week ago had shoulder surgery and who's been out recovering, is back at work now, at least part-time. Today, he's meeting with the co-chairs of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee about the latest state revenue figures; he's scheduled to meet with…
Legislation making the 4 percent holdbacks in this year's state budget permanent - plus adding a bit more by cutting one-time funds - has cleared the House on a 68-1 vote. "This bill is key to balancing the fiscal year 2009 budget," House Appropriations Chairwoman…
Budget cuts at the Idaho Department of Water Resources won't stop the North Idaho water rights adjudication, but they'll slow it down, state Water Resources Director David Tuthill told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning. Among the department's budget cuts are five of the 11…
Among the state Tax Commission's efforts to "mitigate" the potential $7.5 million loss in state revenue due to cutting year-round temporary audit workers as part of state budget cuts, are shifting additional duties to full-time employees, re-evaluating all support positions, some additional automation that's in…
This year's 4 percent holdbacks prompted the state Tax Commission to impose a hiring freeze on full-time positions, impose a mandatory two-day furlough on all but its lowest- paid workers, reduce wages for tax-season temporary employees, and eliminate 58 year-round temporary positions, workers who were…
Royce Chigbrow, chairman of the Idaho State Tax Commission, told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning, "Our tax system depends on the voluntary cooperation of our citizens and businesses," and the Tax Commission has been working to "sustain the voluntary nature of the tax system."…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
