EOB: It’s in Otter’s hands

Because the bill includes an emergency clause making it effective as soon as it’s signed into law, money can be distributed immediately around the state to help with winter- and flood-damaged roads and bridges.

Also last week, Otter signed the seven bills that make up the public school budget into law, though he’d complained about differences between his proposal and the slightly lower one lawmakers approved, which reflects a 6.3 percent increase in state funding for K-12 public schools.

“There were things I would’ve liked to have seen in that budget that weren’t there,” Otter said. “But on the sum, there was a whole lot more good in there.”

A key item included in the budget: Full funding for the third year of Idaho’s five-year plan to improve schools and raise teacher pay. Increased funding for the teacher “career ladder” next year came to $62 million.

“Whatever we didn’t get this year is a good place to start next year,” the governor said. Full story . Betsy Russell/SR