Holding State Government Accoutable
Michelle Stennett
January 18. 2020
"The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard." --Gaylord Nelson
Active Duty Memorial Day
In February, the Idaho Senate will remember our active duty service members who passed away in 2019. Please contact my office with the name, rank, branch of service, and age of any service members who should be honored during this service. Please also provide a point of contact so we can be sure to invite the family to join the Senate on that day. Call 208-332-1351.
Dial 211 for the suicide hotline
Idaho's 211 CareLine is now able to transfer callers directly to the Suicide Hotline. Callers can select option 3, or operators can transfer the call. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for Idahoans ages 13 to 45. I deeply appreciate my colleague Senator Fred Martin, who was instrumental in achieving this.
STEM Action Center
The Department of Labor estimates that by 2026, Idaho will have over 100,000 STEM-related jobs, compared to the current 85,000. Those jobs in 2026 are projected to bring in a potential $7 billion in personal income and a potential $373 million in potential tax revenue. This is amazing growth. But we must position ourselves to benefit from it fully.
According to the STEM Action Center, unfilled STEM jobs in Idaho have doubled since 2016 to 7,600. The Center develops grants, training, professional development, and student opportunities for education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The STEM Action Center is asking the legislature for an 8 percent increase in funding. This is the sort of investment in our future that I support.
Property Taxes
Property taxes have been rising across the state. High property taxes create a real burden for many Idahoans, with those on fixed incomes and veterans among the hardest hit.
The Idaho Legislature talks about local control for cities and counties but, in practice, sends unfunded mandates down to local governments, shifting the state's burden for public services to them without adequate revenue options. This session the public is justifiably outraged at rising property taxes. When the Legislature removed the index, it created a tax shift from commercial property taxes to residential. This is exacerbated by a huge population influx and the rapid increase of property tax values. Important public services need to keep pace with the expanding pressure, but instead, the state is underfunding many of these services which will undoubtedly increase your property taxes more! Here's how:
Education is the biggest recipient of property taxes because the legislature has only increased its budget by 1.5% in the last 10 years with 1,500 more students added annually. Over 30% of our school districts' budgets now come from supplemental levies.
Our Corrections system is busting at the seams. State inmates are being sent to county jails which are overcrowded, and the state is underpaying counties for this service. This is unsustainable and a liability to our counties and sheriffs. Ada County has already had to raise property taxes to compensate.
The legislature plans to take $8.5 million from counties for Medicaid Expansion. Most likely the state will take it out of the revenue sharing it gives to counties. If assessed by population, some counties will be unevenly impacted by the loss and still be required to maintain indigent medical care.
States and counties are required by law to provide adequate public defense, court processes, prosecution services, and emergency management, which are all underfunded.
Most of our transportation budget goes to state road/bridge maintenance and selective new construction for congestion mitigation. Precious little is provided for rural highway districts and county roads/bridges which is a public safety issue. Some counties have tried, but failed, to levy property taxes for dire road needs.
Several proposals related to property taxes are being considered at the legislature this session and I hope that we can have a robust conversation that acknowledges the roll the legislature has played in creating this situation and moves us to a solution that leaves counties, school districts, and property tax payers all in a better position.
An op-ed piece written by State Senators Jordan and Burgoyne gives solutions for property tax relief to Idahoans.
Sen. Michelle Stennett is the Senate Minority Leader. She represents Blaine, Camas, Gooding, and Lincoln counties in the Idaho State Legislature.
Respectfully,
Michelle