College Funding Burdens Counties

Sat., Dec. 23, 1995

By D.F. Oliveria daveo@spokesman.com (509) 319-0354

Believe it or not, Kootenai County property owners could see a second straight year of tax cuts - if local governments behave themselves again and the Legislature does what’s right.

They deserve a $5.8 million tax break.

That’s how much local landowners contribute to North Idaho College, one third of the community college’s budget. On property valued at $75,000 after exemptions, that’s more than $100.

Kootenai County is one of only three Idaho counties that partially fund a community college with property taxes - though all the metropolitan areas have access to two-year programs, offered in some cases by state colleges.

The funding system isn’t fair.

North Idaho College, College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls and the four state institutes should be funded the same: in full from the state general fund. Property owners in Idaho Falls and Blackfoot don’t pay for the two-year branch program provided for them by Idaho State University. The host counties for Idaho’s community colleges shouldn’t have to do so either.

Tax activists have tried vainly to get the community colleges off the property taxes. But the state’s 41 other counties had no incentive to share the additional burden. Also, North Idaho College officials were reluctant to be weaned from property taxes.

Now, NIC President Bob Bennett has embraced the move. Said he: “The person living in this county is certainly supportive of the college, but they feel it’s kind of unfair for them to have to give extra dollars” when residents of other counties don’t.

Fortunately, Kootenai County has two powerful allies from the south fighting for the funding change: Bruce Newcomb, R-Burley, the House majority leader, and Rep. Ron Black, R-Twin Falls, chairman of the House Education Committee.

The two Magic Valley legislators have two reasons to resolve this funding inequity.

First, a group of Jerome County residents wants to secede from the College of Southern Idaho district to avoid paying its share of $3.7 million in property taxes. Second, the 1996 One Percent Initiative, which faces no organized opposition yet and is leading in the polls, would ban the use of property taxes for community colleges and public schools.

Idaho legislators can do what’s right in their 1996 session. Or give voters in three counties one more reason to support the One Percent Initiative.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = D.F. Oliveria/For the editorial board

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