[Vision2020] pre-Legislative update from Rep. Trail

[ttrail at moscow.com]

Visionaries:

The Idaho Legislature will convene on Monday (January 9th).  The Governor 
will give us State of the State address that evening.  He will probably 
talk about his plans to reform Medicaid, prison overcrowding, the $200 
million surplus, and, hopefully, about tax restructuring.

The $200 million plus surplus will be the subject of great debate. The 
Governor has indicated he will not approve any of the monies going to 
fund on-going projects and activities.  Part of the surplus will, no 
doubt, be held back in reserve as part of the budget stabilization 
process.

Property tax relief will be high on the priority list.  The Legislative 
Interim Committee has proposed a $125 million package for property tax 
relief.  Property tax relief can only be achieved by cutting expenses or 
shifting taxes, and it appears that the most likely shift will be to the 
sales tax.  There is the possibility of one or two citizen initiatives 
for property tax relief.  This puts added pressure on the Legislature to 
come up with a relief package.

Funding for education will be vital for District 6  --  both public and 
for the University of Idaho.  The Idaho Education Association is pushing 
an initiative which would call for an increase of one percent in the 
sales tax to be dedicated to educational programs and teachers salaries.  
The Idaho Supreme Court ruled in favor of the school districts and told 
the Legislature to fix the problem.  One expert reports that we need 
about $35 million per year in bond match and $25 million per year toward 
maintenance and repair of public school buildings.  Both of these forces 
will make the session very challenging. 

Legislatition that I will be working on:

  1.  OMNIBUS TAX BILL  --  This proposal would eliminate 10 exemptions 
and generate $60 million for the General Fund.  Services would be taxed 
at the 5% sales tax rate (except medical and health). Total sales tax 
would generate an amount equal to the 6% sales tax rate and yield a 
surplus of about $250 million.  This could be utilized to provide 
property tax relief, provide additional money for teachers salaries and 
educational activities, and help fund school facilities needs.  Another 
alternative is to reduce the sales tax on groceries.

  2.  Option Sales Tax -- Rep. Ringo and I were approached by the County 
Commissioners, former Mayor Comstock, Sheriff Rausch, and Moscow Chief of 
Police, Dan Weaver.  We will be introducing legislation that would allow 
the citizens of Latah County to vote on a 1/2 cent option tax to build a 
combined law enforcement center for the Sheriff's Office and the Moscow 
City Police.  There would be considerable savings with a combined 
facility.  The Legislature has to vote to grant the citizens of Latah 
County to right to proceed with a vote to approve or reject the 
proposal.  Two thirds vote is required for passage.   One positive 
outcome if passed is that Latah County citizens would get about one 
million in property tax relief a year.  Both Kootenai and Nezperce county 
have been granted approval, and citizens approved proposals to build law 
enforcement facilities.  A needs assessment is now being conducted.

  3.  Minimum Wage -- I will be introducing legislation to increase 
Idaho's minimum wage to $6.15/hr with a CPI to go into effect each 
Janaury 1st.  I understand that the Democrats have similar legislation.  
The federal government has not increased the minimum wage of $5.15 for 
eight years.  Seventeen states have increased the minimum wage since 1997.

  4.  Updating of Idaho's Animal Cruelty Laws  --  part of the 
legislation will be to request a felony penalty for dog fighting.  A 
total of 48 states already have a felony penalty on the books for dog 
fighting.  I'm working with the Idaho Humane Society with this 
legislation.  We also plan to introduce legislation next year that would 
request the felony penalty on gamecock fighting.

  5.  State Employee Compensation  --  I will be joining other 
legislators in signing on to a resolution to increase state employee 
compensation by 5%.  During the past several years there has been 
virtually no increase at all.

  6.  Grass Burning Notification  --  this legislation has been requested 
by Sheriff Wayne Rausch.  It would require the Department of Agriculture 
to inform law enforcement/emergency services of the date, location, and 
the time of a planned burn.  This is a public health issue.

  7.  Energy Assistance to Families at the Poverty Level  --  Avista has 
indicated they want to provide significant assistance to the 12,000 
families in N. Idaho who are at or below the poverty level in terms of 
energy assistance.  By Idaho law one cannot discriminate between classes 
or rate payers.  The code needs to be changed.  The statutory change 
would not be mandatory but voluntary for the energy provider in question.

    I have several other bills in progress.  In addition I will be 
supporting added financial support for the University of Idaho including 
staff salaries, faculty equity, and maintenance and operation.

    I'd appreciate your input, comments, and recommendations regarding 
legislation.  

My contact information follows below:

Idaho State Legislature
State Capitol Bldg
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0038

208-332-1260 (my desk phone)
208-332-1000 (information desk phone)

ttrail at moscow.com or ttrail at house.idaho.gov

Repectfully,

Rep. Tom Trail


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