Cities Win 1, Lose 1 On Revenue Votes

The Association of Idaho Cities came away with half a loaf Monday in its latest effort to win local option taxing authority from the Idaho Legislature.

The Legislature has rejected nearly every attempt during the last 20 years to give local government authority to impose taxes if voters approve.

The House Revenue and Taxation Committee voted introduction of the association’s latest attempt.

The bill presented Monday by Director Scott McDonald would allow local areas to impose sales taxes, if 60 percent of the voters approved.

Some committee members said they would at least allow the bill to have a hearing, even though they had doubts about it.

McDonald was less successful with his proposal to divert 5.1 percent of state sales tax revenue, about $40 million per year, into a revenue-sharing program designed to help cities, counties and school districts with construction needs. The bill was rejected for introduction.

Cities and counties would have been required to put 20 percent of the additional money into a fund to cut property taxes.