After three days of hearings and hours of testimony from county and city officials, an Idaho House panel has approved a bill that would temporarily freeze the portions of local government budgets funded by property taxes. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee approved the bill last week with a do pass recommendation on a 12-3 party line vote.

The bill prohibits local governments—except for school districts—from certifying a property tax budget or levy in 2020 that exceeds the amount budgeted in 2019.

FIRST GROCERY, PROPERTY TAX BILLS BEFORE COMMITTEE

The House Revenue & Taxation Committee is gearing up to consider this year’s tax proposals. Wednesday’s hearing saw the introduction of several bills aimed at property and grocery taxes.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that your property taxes are going to go down,” said House Majority Leader Mike Moyle. “It puts a Band-Aid on it, and it gives the opportunity for those of us in the Legislature to sit down and find out a way to proceed with this.”

Text, House, LegislationLogan FinneyJanuary 24, 2020Idaho State CapitolRepublicans, Mike Moyle, Scott Bedke, Steven Harris, Brad Little, Priscilla Giddings, Gary Collins, Butch Otter, Jim Rice, Jason Monks, Democrats, Steve Berch, Property Tax, Grocery Tax