Lawmakers told to mind manners

BOISE – The chairwoman of the House committee where all tax legislation starts wants people to behave themselves at next week’s hearings on the growing number of property tax reform measures before the Legislature.

“Like all good boys and girls, we need to mind our manners,” Rep. Dolores Crow, R-Nampa, said Tuesday during a meeting of the Tax and Revenue Committee. “The chair will not allow any grandstanding.”

Because of expected large public turnout, the Legislature has scheduled up to three days of hearings in the Boise City Hall chambers on the two dozen bills filed. Monday’s session starts at 9 a.m. and could run as late as 11:30 a.m., to give as many people a chance to testify as possible, without forcing lawmakers to spend their entire day on the issue.

Homeowners now pay nearly two-thirds of all Idaho property taxes, up from 40 percent 25 years ago, and many are clamoring for relief. Still, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, along with Crow and House Speaker Bruce Newcomb, R-Burley, has said most property tax issues are better left to cities or counties, not the state.

That’s set the stage for a showdown between Kempthorne and some lawmakers, including the bipartisan interim tax committee that met over the summer in 12 Idaho cities, who have said changes are needed to avoid a tax revolt.

“It’s so early in the session,” said Kempthorne, on the sidelines of a Statehouse ceremony Tuesday where he signed into law a 3 percent pay raise for state workers. “We have lots to discuss. There’s still much to be debated.”

Bills that will be considered next week include several introduced Tuesday, including a plan from Rep. Bill Deal, R-Nampa, to limit increases in property taxes that can be collected by schools for maintenance and operations. It would exempt from taxes any increase in the net taxable value of property above 5 percent; there’s currently no limit.

If approved, it would mean school districts would see their expected increase from taxes drop by $19 million in the fiscal year starting July 1.

Another proposal would increase the amount of the value that homeowners can exempt from taxes to $100,000, from the current $50,000. The bill, sponsored by House Minority Leader Wendy Jacquet, D-Ketchum, is more expansive than a similar proposal for an increase to $75,000, one of this summer’s interim property tax committee’s recommendations.

The other proposals include:

“Allowing school districts to assess impact fees for new homes.

“Shifting the maintenance and operations levy to Idaho’s general fund.

“Closing a loophole that has helped owners of resort property pay pennies in taxes since 2002.

“Expanding some tax breaks for elderly and disabled residents, something Kempthorne supports.

Some committee members Tuesday were a little blurry on what Crow meant with her “no grandstanding” mandate.

“What’s your definition of grandstanding?” asked Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis.

“Well, talking it to death,” Crow said, before adding, “I’ll get you a dictionary.”