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January 29, 2013

Gov. Otter’s Health Exchange Plan Clears First Hurdle In The Idaho Legislature

A panel of Idaho senators voted unanimously to give a full hearing to legislation that would create a state-based health insurance exchange. Gov. Otter’s chief of staff introduced the proposal to the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee today. It’s the first step toward creating an online insurance marketplace for Idaho. “It’s important to understand […]

January 28, 2013

A 7-Year Plan To Phase Out Idaho’s Personal Property Tax? Not Quite

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter began and ended his talk to the Idaho Chamber Alliance this morning by cheering Chobani, the Greek yogurt manufacturer that opened a plant in Twin Falls last month. But the real subject of his talk was the 2013 legislative session, and his priorities for the months ahead. One of those priorities […]

January 25, 2013

Nixing Personal Property Tax Would “Devastate” One Eastern Idaho County

This week, we’re devoting some time to understanding Idaho’s business personal property tax. Ending that tax is a priority for the governor and some of the state’s biggest businesses. But it generates millions for local government. Yesterday, we explained what the personal property tax is. Today, we go to Power County, in eastern Idaho. Local […]

January 24, 2013

Micron Technology Is One Big Idaho Business Behind Personal Property Tax Repeal

Boise-based Micron and two of its subsidiaries are three of the top five business personal property tax payers in Ada County. In 2011, Micron paid more than $2.9 million. MP Mask Technology Center, a joint venture between Micron and Photronics Inc. paid almost $1 million, and shuttered Micron joint venture Transform Holdings Inc. (Transform Solar) […]

Explaining Idaho’s Personal Property Tax, With A Little Help From A Boise Candy Store

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter and many of the Idaho Legislature’s Republican leaders are in agreement: something has to happen on the personal property tax this session. And by “something,” they mean a plan to get rid of it. But there’s a problem. The tax generates $140 million dollars each year for local government. In this […]

January 23, 2013

Map: Who Benefits Most If Idaho’s Business Personal Property Tax Is Eliminated

In 2011, more than 53,000 Idaho companies paid the business personal property tax. Half of those businesses paid less than $90. Who stands to benefit from getting rid of the tax? Click around the map to see the top five payers in each county. The darker a county is shaded, the more reliant it is on the personal property tax.

January 15, 2013

Idaho’s Health And Welfare Director Sets Different Tone For Budget Process

After the recession years of cutting staff and budgets at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the department’s director says the agency is now “hanging on” and is asking lawmakers to fund 24.9 new full time positions. Health and Welfare director Dick Armstrong approached the Legislature’s main budget panel yesterday with a different tone […]

January 14, 2013

Why 70,000 People Will Join Idaho’s Medicaid Rolls In 2014

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare estimates that 70,340 people will join Idaho’s Medicaid rolls next year, department chief Richard Armstrong told the Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee today. This isn’t news to people who have watched Idaho wrestle with the Affordable Care Act; a November report from independent consulting group Milliman projected the enrollment […]

January 11, 2013

Gov. Otter Acknowledges Idaho’s Doctor Shortage, Proposes One Step Toward A Fix

As we reported earlier this week, Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter showed his support to Idaho’s medical educators and doctors by including money for additional access to med school. Otter’s budget proposal includes funding for five additional seats at the University of Washington Medical School, the WWAMI program. That would expand the opportunity for Idaho med […]

January 10, 2013

Idaho Legislators Give Initial Stamp Of Approval To Gov. Otter’s Revenue Forecast

Lawmakers on the Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee (EORAC) have agreed to move the state budget process forward with a vote of confidence in Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s revenue estimate. Gov. Otter unveiled his annual budget plan Monday. It assumes state revenue will increase 5.3 percent in fiscal year 2014 over fiscal year 2013. […]

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