Boise Roundup: January Revenues Down

Idaho legislators are expressing fears about whether they can fund Gov. Butch Otter’s proposed budget due to anticipated worsening economic conditions – and they got the first numbers today that bolster that fear. Though preliminary, state revenue figures for January show a sharp drop, coming in $36 million below projections. It’s the first such shortfall – December’s figures met projections, and November was the last of five straight months in which state tax revenues exceeded the state’s projections. “While we’re not raising the panic flag or a red flag, we certainly are raising the orange flag of caution,” said JFAC Co-Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise, SR. More here.

Eye On Boise Roundup: Otter pitches for pay, benefits plan ; Federal judge rebukes justices in school suit ; Challenges ahead for ITD ; Water wars spread north ; and Taxes due? Charge it .