March 20, 2024 (Pocatello for Accountable Government Entities, March 19, 2024)
HB574 is now law! (Effective 07/01/2024) Governor Little signed it on Monday, 03/18/24.
This bill is an example of what citizens can accomplish by working through the legislative/governmental process.
P.A.G.E. advocated for better transparency in relation to the November 2023 bond and we advocated for this bill. This legislation ensures that transparency. It is a win for the public!
HB574 adds clarity and improves transparency by requiring bond ballot language to include a statement identifying the year state tax relief funds will retire and precluding a ballot question or official statement from including any information regarding state tax relief funds unless a specific dollar amount of such funding is guaranteed to the taxing district.
As an example (see image below), here is what HB 574 fixes:
- The 11/2023 SD25 ballot did not disclose the state tax relief money was guaranteed for only a few years.
- The 11/2023 SD25 ballot did not disclose the yearly amount of relief could vary.
HB574 REQUIRES language that will enable the public to clearly understand the temporary nature and/or duration of tax relief funds and to have stable numbers upon which to base their decision. School Districts are NOT restricted from discussing any temporary tax relief dollars – they simply cannot use “legal” language qualifiers regarding un-guaranteed amounts on the ballot or other official statements that may confuse voters. This ensures the public knows the cost should taxpayer relief cease during the repayment term of the bond.
This bill is a positive addition to Idaho statutes to ensure the transparency the public deserves in regard to bond election language especially in light of state tax relief funds which muddy the waters, confuse voters and make the tax amounts unclear.
HOUSE BILL 574: https://legislature.idaho.gov/…/2024/legislation/H0574.pdf
