Chamber Policies

 Transportation Policy
 Economic Development Policy
 Tax Policy
 Education/Workforce Policy
 Energy Resources Policy

2010 Legislative Agenda


TRANSPORTATION

Support Additional GARVEE Bond
Widening Interstate I-84 and other major transportation projects are important for our area’s economic future. A GARVEE Bond is being recommended to the Idaho Legislature to continue interstate widening to Nampa and purchase right-of-way for the extension of State Highway 16 from Star to connect to the south across the Boise River and up the bench to US 20/26 (Chinden Blvd).


ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Review Urban Reinvestment Legislation
Idaho's current urban renewal law has been important for the revitalization of Downtown Boise. New legislation will be proposed in the Idaho Legislature to improve transparency and accountability of current urban renewal districts and create new Idaho law for future urban reinvestment projects.

Improve 5-Year Property Tax Exemption
A short-term property tax exemption could be very important in attracting new manufacturing facilities to Idaho. A law passed in 2008 gives county commissioners the ability to grant a property tax exemption for up to 5 years for a manufacturing plant of at least $3 million, if constructed in a rural zone. Several amendments need to be made so county commissioners can use this law to benefit economic development: 1) eliminate an annual filing requirement; 2) add tangible personal property to the facility value; and 3) eliminate the confusing rural zone requirement.

Review a Constitutional Amendment Clarifying "Ordinary & Necessary" Debt
The Idaho Supreme Court has determined that all non-emergency municipal debt needs to be approved by supermajority vote. However, not all municipal revenues to repay debt are from taxes. Some government operations are self supporting with user fees. A constitutional amendment is needed to clarify that the Boise Airport can bond for facility and parking expansion if only self-supporting user fees are used.


TAX POLICY

Support Reducing the Corporate Income Tax
Idaho’s corporate income tax rate of 7.6% is considered too high to be competitive with other states for some business attraction projects. Idaho has been eliminated from consideration for economic development projects based on this tax rate alone. A first step could start reducing the corporate income tax rate from 7.6% to 7.0% beginning in tax year 2012.


EDUCATION/WORKFORCE

Support Reduction of the Supermajority for School Bonds
Appropriate school facilities contribute to the quality of public education and are an important consideration in economic development. The Boise Metro Chamber has long supported reducing the supermajority for bond elections if held on consolidated election dates. Election consolidation has now been approved along with adjusted election dates. A constitutional amendment is being proposed to reduce the supermajority for school bonds from 66 ⅔% to 60% as a trade-off for additional voter participation.


CHAMBER'S 2010 LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD