Twice, Kootenai County voters have passed a local-option sales tax to pay for a $12 million expansion of the local jail and to provide an equal amount in property tax relief – the second time by a supermajority vote.

Now, county commissioners are asking their permission to lobby the Idaho Legislature to expand the legislation to use the half-cent sales tax for projects other than jail expansion. They see the county sales tax as a good way to pay for important projects, such as the purchase of open space or construction of a civic center. They’re right. With voter approval, Idaho counties and cities should have the right to levy a sales tax to pay for projects that now are funded by the property tax.

The Spokesman-Review recommends that voters approve the advisory measure.

Even with strong local voter support, local elected officials will have a hard time getting the 2005 Legislature to approve an expanded local-option tax. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee did all it could last year to prevent Kootenai County from reinstituting the local-option sales tax after the state Supreme Court ruled an original one unconstitutional. The committee will resist an expanded sales tax more fiercely. But that’s a battle for another day.