Property Tax Limit Plan Introduced

Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden, persuaded a legislative committee Thursday to introduce his plan to prevent future big property tax increases.

Clark said the 3 percent limit on increases in total property tax collections from year to year isn’t strong enough because it allows counties or other districts that don’t take the full 3 percent to hold over the unused amount for future increases.

There’s now $15 million statewide in potential future tax increases, Clark said, up $3 million from last year, from districts that raised taxes less than 3 percent. Five million of the total is in Kootenai County.

Several members of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee objected to Clark’s plan, saying if the 3 percent becomes a “use it or lose it” proposition, everyone will just raise taxes every year. “I think this would drive taxes up,” said Rep. Roger Chase, D-Pocatello.

But the committee agreed to introduce the bill so it can receive a full hearing.

, DataTimes