Auditorium Districts Get House Ok

Legislation designed to encourage communities of more than 25,000 population to form auditorium districts sailed through the Idaho House on Thursday by a 65-2 count.

It now goes to the Senate.

Current law allows cities of more than 100,000 population to form auditorium districts and levy property taxes for funding. Only Boise has such a district and it would not be affected by the new proposal.

Sponsoring Rep. Dolores Crow, R-Nampa, told House members the proposal would allow formation of auditorium districts but not to levy property taxes. The district could use revenue from the 2 percent hotel-motel room tax, she said.

The ban on property taxes would make the proposals more attractive to voters, Crow said.

She said several of the state’s largest cities would benefit if allowed to use the money for tourism promotion and advertising.

“It allows auditorium districts to market their products,” said Rep. Lee Gagner, R-Idaho Falls. “It won’t scare the local community that it would just be more property tax.”

Rep. W.O. “Bill” Taylor, R-Nampa, opposed the bill. He said many community facilities have been built by donations and volunteers in his area.