Legislature 2013
Otter: No constitutional 2/3rds vote hurdle for tax shift
BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- To eliminate Idaho's personal property tax, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter would allow cities and counties to replace revenue they stand to lose with money from local option taxes.
To win such a measure, however, Otter said he won't demand that a two-thirds vote requirement for new local option taxes be anchored in Idaho's Constitution.
Five years ago, it was just this demand, from Republican leaders, that helped torpedo a previous effort by local governments seeking to tax themselves.
Then, cities like Boise wanted a local option tax, to fund public transportation.
But they couldn't stomach a two-thirds constitutionally-anchored vote requirement, and the effort died.
Though Otter said Monday that's not on his list of demands this year, he pointed out that legislative leaders might insist on a constitutional amendment again.
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