Raises in tough times

The Legislature this year will have to make a decision about the salaries of top elected officials and their raises for the next four years. Because of the state’s constitution, the salaries and raises that were set in 2006 and planned for the next four years could not be changed, even when hard economic times hit.

They include the governor, attorney general, and  superintendent of public instruction.

To read more and see salary information of the seven statewide elected officials, go here.

Otter’s budget chief draws criticism after alluding to “personal war”

Wayne Hammon, the governor’s budget chief, found himself apologizing to legislative leaders after sending out an email to lawmakers that claimed there was a “personal war” between Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert and Mike Gwartney, who heads the state’s Department of Administration.

It issue is the Idaho Education Network, with Hammon encouraged some legislators on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee to approve funding for on Friday.

The full story is here.

Urban renewal to be heard in House committee

Seven bills covering urban renewal issues will be heard this morning in the House Revenue and Taxation Commitee. Urban renewal districts often draw criticism for pulling increased revenues from higher property values away from other tax districts and using them for incentives to developers.

The bills include requiring an election for URA commissioners, a majority vote to begin a URA, and requiring approval from affected tax entities for the boundaries of a URA’s area. The bills are aimed at giving the public a stronger voice in the system, though they’ve generated concerns from URA officials that they will neuter the law and make it useless.

House Revenue and Taxation Committee meeting today

The House Revenue and Taxation Committee will be discussing giving larger income tax breaks to people who give donations to public schools and several state agencies, including those that Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter had proposed cutting the state funding for over the next four years. That includes agencies such as the Hispanic Commission and Idaho Public Television.

Legislation by the slice

This weekend, I wrote a column about the role of pizza in public policy.  Sometimes, the choice of a student’s pizza preference can lead to legislative proposals. The full story is here.

Teacher salary funding cut 4 percent

JFAC approved 15-4 the appropriations for teacher salaries, which has a 4 percent overall cut.

Like the first vote, Democrats voted against it along party lines.  Though it cuts the money for salaries, that doesn’t mean all teachers are getting paid less. Local school districts have the ability to tap into the other sources of funds like reserves to pay teachers more or keep salaries level if they wish.

One piece at a time

The public schools budget is getting voted on one piece at time by the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. The first one  — reducing the appropriations for administrator salaries by 6.5 percent — passed 15-4, along party line votes.

Democrats opposed, including Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, who pointed that a recent State Department of Education report has misleading salary data about raises in districts. Jaquet pointed out that districts have combined positions and added duties.

“Our administrators today they are basically the educational leader of the school,” Jaquet said. “When you have a good administrator, they make a difference.”

Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome and co-chairwoman of JFAC, told her that it has to do with the budget crisis not a problem with administrators.

“This motion has nothing to do with the value and work of administrators,” Bell said. “It’s all about the economy.”

Drug tests for food stamps?

Rep.  Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, wants the state to look into the idea of giving random drug tests to adults who receive public assistance like food stamps and Medicaid. Though he’s only asking for a study to look into the issue, his proposal is already drawing criticism from Democrats who say the idea would create problems.

His proposal for the Department of Health and Welfare to do the study passed on Tuesday. The full story is here.

No letter writing

The House Education Committee on Tuesday decided against sending a letter to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee about the schools budget before they vote on it. Rep. Bob Nonini, the chairman, called that an “exercise in futility” with any letter probably headed straight to a file cabinet.

The story is right here.

Education budget getting closer to finished

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee is preparing to vote today on its public schools budget.  For the state, education is the biggest piece of the budget, which makes it a crucial step of getting a budget set that balances declining revenues with the needs.

Rather than set the education budget last, this budget will go forward after JFAC approves it to the Senate and House. In a way, it will be a test run to see if full legislative support can be garnered.

Rather than set all the smaller parts of the budget — then get hung up with education — JFAC is getting the most challenging — and biggest — aspect out of the way first.

Overall, the public education budget is cut a proposed 7.5 percent, with the bulk of that coming because of federal stimulus money that won’t be restored. In the last session, federal stimulus offset state funding cuts, though that luxury isn’t happening this year.