The February jobs report from the Idaho Department of Labor follows trends we’ve seen over the last few months. February’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked down one percentage point to 6.2 percent, but that decline is due to a shrinking workforce.
The Labor Department says private sector employers hired more people than usual last month, but total employment dropped by 400.
The decline to less than 774,000 in the statewide workforce – the combination of employed workers and those actively looking for jobs – has become a concern since Idaho appears to be generating jobs faster than the national economy. Continue Reading →
Sen. Jeff Siddoway (R-Rexburg) chairs the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee.
After minimal discussion, the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee gave unanimous approval to the personal property tax proposal that sailed through the House early this week.
Chairman Jeff Siddoway (R-Rexburg) noted, to laughter, that all of those signed up to testify on the bill were in favor of it.“As I look through the agenda here, there are no cons. Everyone’s a pro. So don’t blow this!” he said.
The bill, HB 315, is effectively a $20 million tax cut for Idaho businesses, backed by the Idaho Association of Counties. Among other provisions, it establishes an exemption for the first $100,000 worth of personal property owned by every business in the state, in every county of operation. Â Continue Reading →
Idaho lawmakers fundamentally opposed to the federal health care law made a final effort to convince their colleagues to reject a state-based health insurance exchange, but to no avail. The bill which will create a state-based online insurance marketplace passed the Senate 23-12, sending the measure to Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter who is sure to sign it into law.
In a statement released shortly after the vote, Gov. Otter praised the Legislature for their work on passing his plan. Continue Reading →
Boise’s hometown grocery store is expected to be back under one umbrella Thursday at midnight, according to an Albertsons LLC spokesperson. Supervalu’s sale of Albertsons stores to Cerberus Capital Management will reunite the brands that were split in 2006.
In January, Supervalu announced it was selling all Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Star Market stores in a $3.3 billion deal to Cerberus, the investment firm that purchased some of the Albertsons stores in 2006.
The Idaho Statesmanreported the sale includes 877 stores, 33 of which are in Idaho.
It’s unclear what changes will be made to the stores under new ownership. Last week the Idaho Business Reviewreported there will be layoffs as part of restructuring, but few details were given. Continue Reading →
A fast-tracked bill that would repeal the personal property tax for nearly 90 percent of Idaho businesses passed the House 67-2 the same day it was unanimously pushed through committee. Representatives Shirley Ringo (D-Latah) and John Gannon (D-Boise) cast the only votes against the measure.
Rep. Gannon said he couldn’t support the bill because $20 million in state general fund dollars will now be used to pay for the forgone tax revenue, money Gannon says should instead be used to fund schools.
“The voters have repeatedly said they want the public schools supported,” Gannon said. He referenced the 36 of 41 public school levies approved by voters earlier this month, which will collectively increase property tax collections by more than $100 million. Continue Reading →
Updated: The House will debate a personal property tax bill, HB 315, at 3:30 this afternoon, according to reports. The bill was introduced yesterday in the House Ways & Means Committee and won unanimous support in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee this morning.
A personal property tax bill supported by the Idaho Association of Counties and introduced Monday in the House Ways & Means Committee won unanimous approval in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee this morning.
Molly Messick / StateImpact Idaho
Seth Grigg of the Idaho Association of Counties presented the personal property tax legislation to the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.
Revenue and Taxation Chairman Gary Collins (R-Nampa) said after the vote he believes this bill can win the Legislature’s support this session.
“We have tried to come up with something that we felt could make it through both bodies, and hopefully the governor will sign,” Collins said. “Depending on whose figures you look at, almost 90 percent of the businesses will be relieved of the personal property tax, and I see that as a very good thing.” Continue Reading →
The new bill would exempt items with an acquisition price of $3,000 or less from the tax on business equipment and machinery. It would also exempt the first $100,000 of business personal property from taxation for all businesses in the state. That means operating property owners, like railroads and public utilities, could now claim the exemption. Continue Reading →
Consulting group Milliman this afternoon will tell Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s Medicaid work group that Idaho could save more money than previously estimated by expanding Medicaid eligibility.
The Medicaid expansion is a key component of the federal Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. Last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the law’s constitutionality gave states the ability to decide whether to expand eligibility to those who live at or below 138 percent of the poverty line.
According to Milliman’s updated calculation, which takes into consideration new information from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), net savings to Idaho county budgets and the state general fund could total $9.8 million over a decade, rather than the $6 million earlier projected. Â Continue Reading →
The House Ways & Means Committee reportedly will meet this afternoon to consider a personal property tax bill backed by the Idaho Association of Counties. It’s a sign the bill has House Speaker Scott Bedke’s support, according to Boise State University emeritus professor and political analyst Jim Weatherby.
“It looks like they’re trying to come out with some kind of a bill this year, if they’re working through Ways & Means,” Weatherby says. “The committee is called by the Speaker. It does not meet without his approval. You’re not going to find that in the rule books anywhere, but that is in fact how it works.”
The Idaho Statesman‘s Dan Popkey writes that Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry (IACI) President Alex LaBeau was unaware of a new bill as of noon today. Â Continue Reading →
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