Transit coalition still negotiating local option legislation

Backers of a public transit bill are concerned their legislation may not get a hearing this legislative session.

Ken Burgess, spokesman for the Moving Idaho Forward coalition, said his group is continuing to negotiate with Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and the House leadership about the legislation.
The proposal is similar to a public transit bill that was proposed last year. The legislation would give regional transportation authorities the ability to ask voters for permission to levy a local option sales tax to pay for regional transportation needs.
The bill has been expanded to apply anywhere a regional transportation authority exists, and allows for the local option revenue to be spent on roads and public transit.
Burgess said the House leadership first wants to pass a constitutional amendment to limit how a local option tax could be introduced.
They don’t want there to be an opportunity to lower the standards used to introduce the tax, like the supermajority requirement or the election date, Burgess said.
“As far as I know, there is no precedent for it; it’s not legally required but something they feel they want in place,” he said.
Before the bill can be heard on the House floor, it must first be approved by the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. That committee is allowed to introduce legislation at any time, so the bill could appear before the end of session.
It hasn’t so far.
Chairman Dennis Lake, R- Blackfoot, said he still hasn’t seen draft legislation.
“We’re becoming increasingly frustrated with the House’s desire to link a constitutional amendment [to the transportation bill],” Burgess said. “We want to have the bill heard.”