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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Visonaries:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>From the
Legislature, Part IV</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>On February
21, the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee will begin setting
budgets.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Questions loom about
spending priorities the Committee will have.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Our Governor has indicated his
priorities – he would favor setting aside $60 million in rainy day funds and a
$45 million tax cut over increasing pay for public employees.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My own priorities would include
increased pay for public employees; restoring cuts to Medicaid that have harmed
individuals with physical and mental disabilities; better support for education;
attention to infrastructure; and some restoration to our rain day funds.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I would like to hear from you about
these issues.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you are so
inclined, you might consider contacting other JFAC members.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri>This year,
Democrats have proposed legislation that would lead to more jobs with better
pay.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So far, we’re not seeing many
of our ideas move forward.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One idea
I find intriguing involves creation of a state bank.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>North Dakota is currently the only state
that has one, but other states are investigating the idea.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Washington State, for example, has begun
a detailed study of the pros and cons.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Among the functions of such an entity would be facilitation of loans to
small businesses by helping to buy down interest rates provided by established
banks, or helping to provide funds.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>In my opinion, small businesses are important to the health of our
economy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Owners tend to have
loyalty to the communities – they are not looking to out-source, or shop around
the country for the best tax deals.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>I think one of the major concerns during my tenure in Idaho’s
Legislature involves our failure to have a long term plan for assessing needs
and assuring adequacy of revenue to meet those needs.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have attempted to generate discussions
of a variety of means for generating revenue with an eye on fairness.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think that’s a conversation we need to
have.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>There are regular discussions about eliminating wasteful spending,
as there should be.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Beyond that, we
are not meeting our responsibility if we refuse to assess adequacy of revenue to
protect our investments in infrastructure, and provide necessary
services.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>Among my concerns are the following:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>According to the Idaho Department of Transportation, Idaho’s
transportation system currently has 574 bridges over fifty years old.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>By 2021, there will be 1096 bridges in
that category.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Today, 13% of our
roads have deficient pavement.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>With
our current strategy, investing $100 million annually, by 2021 28% of the roads
will have deficient pavement.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
Governor’s Transportation Funding Task Force recommendations show a current <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">$543 million total annual shortfall</B> in
funding to maintain the transportation infrastructure.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>In the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, we receive
updates concerning building projects. Despite yearly efforts, there is a notable
backlog in needed renovation and repair projects.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This week, the Director of Public Works
indicated the cost of those unmet needs is $500 million.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>All presenters to the budget committee have discussed the critical
need for addressing public employee pay.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>After years of neglect, levels of pay are considerably lower than those
in the private sector.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Turnover
rates are increasing, and are costly. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>As I have mentioned before, the general fund appropriation for K-12
schools has been reduced by $200 million since 2009.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We all know higher education budgets are
skimpy and tuition continues to go up.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Funding for Medicaid programs has been slashed.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The need for these services does not
vanish, so in many cases the burden is shifted to other budgets.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>These conditions have developed over time, and have worsened during
the economic downturn.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think
there should be a plan to meet these challenges.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Your opinions are important.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I welcome your thoughts.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face=Calibri>Shirley Ringo</FONT></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>