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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm with you Sue!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Betsy Dickow</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=suehovey@moscow.com href="mailto:suehovey@moscow.com">Sue Hovey</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=ringoshirl@moscow.com
href="mailto:ringoshirl@moscow.com">Shirley Ringo</A> ; <A
title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, September 23, 2009 10:39
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020] Idaho's budget
- Governor visits Latah County</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Shirl, isn't it time to look at the
multitudes of exemptions and possibly repeal all of them, particularly
services (sure, protect funeral services if you have to, since some folks
appear to feel taxing death rites is somehow
unbiblical.) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sue Hovey </FONT></DIV>
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style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=ringoshirl@moscow.com href="mailto:ringoshirl@moscow.com">Shirley
Ringo</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, September 22, 2009 9:55
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] Idaho's budget -
Governor visits Latah County</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Visionaries:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>You have
read about Idaho’s revenue shortfalls.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Governor Otter has asked agency directors to tell what cuts they
would make in the event of a budget holdback.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He has asked them to be clear about
how their programs would be affected.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>On
Wednesday, September 16, I attended a meeting in which the Governor
discussed issues related to the budget.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The dollar amounts for
holdbacks of 6% and 3% for each agency were provided.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Governor Otter has indicated that he
will not consider a tax increase.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>He has expressed a willingness to recommend using approximately half
of remaining reserve funds, but significant holdbacks would still be
necessary.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Budgets
set in the most recent legislative session can be described as austere.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It might be noted that leaders in
other states are considering ideas such as an income tax surcharge on
individuals with higher incomes to gain revenue to protect vital
programs.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>In 2008,
the Grocery Tax Credit was increased to $30/person for some, $50 for
others.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(More for those of age
65 or older.)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These amounts are
to increase by $10 per year until they reach the amount of $100 per
person.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The cost of that
increase for next year is about $15.5 million dollars. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There have been discussions about
freezing the buildup of the grocery tax credit until state revenues are
stronger.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(Governor Otter has
not said he would support such a move. ) </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>In 2006,
a majority of legislators voted to shift mandatory property tax support for
public schools to the general funds.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>This requires public schools to compete with other entities for those
monies.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At the time, the
promise was to “protect education” by raising the sales tax from 5% to
6%.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The notion of increasing
the grocery tax credit helps those who would struggle with the regressive
sales tax.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The cost of the
higher grocery tax credit erodes about half of the state revenue gained by
raising the sales tax to protect education.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Calibri>What would you
recommend to handle the revenue shortfall?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Further reductions of agency
budgets, including K-12 and higher education?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Use all or part of the reserve
funds?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Find ways to increase
revenue?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A combination of these
ideas?<o:p></o:p></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Governor
Otter will be in Kendrick tomorrow (September 23) from 9 AM to 3 PM.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He will be at the Kendrick fire
station – adjacent to the city park.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>This is your opportunity to voice your opinion directly to
him.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Shirley
Ringo (883-1005, 301-2272)</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Please
contact me if you have questions.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
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<P></P>=======================================================<BR> List
services made available by First Step Internet, <BR> serving the
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<BR>
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