Committee Kills Property Tax Cut

Tue., March 11, 1997

Associated Press

Legislation to wipe out about $150 million in local school property taxes was rejected Monday by the House tax committee.

Too late, members of the Revenue and Tax Committee told Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis.

Barrett proposed eliminating one-third of local school property taxes for maintenance and operation in each of the next three years, just under $50 million per year.

“If we cut $138 million out of the budget, what are we going to cut?” asked Rep. Mark Stubbs, R-Twin Falls. “It’s way too late to even print this bill.”

Rep. Frank Bruneel, R-Lewiston, has a similar bill that eliminates most local school property taxes, but replaces the revenue through a 25 percent increase in sales tax, to 6.25 percent. It also calls for a voter referendum before the tax shift could occur.

It was scheduled to come up for a final vote by today.

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Committee Kills Property Tax Cut

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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