In the March 1^st edition of the Idaho Political Report, we discuss:

• Idaho's January Revenue Report
• School Facilities and Income Tax Cut Bill Update
• Idaho to Hold First Presidential Caucus in Over a Decade

Idaho’s January Revenue Report

For the month of January, the Idaho Division of Financial Management has reported total collections of $516.7 million which is $34.6 million more than predicted. This surplus, along with a strong December report, erased a budget deficit the state was facing after five straight months of collections below expectations. The January growth in revenue is largely due to better-than-expected corporate income tax collections. For the year, Idaho is now 5.6% ahead of expectations and trending positively.

Below are the revenue collections by tax type for January and Year-To-Date.

To view the full revenue report you can go HERE.

School Facilities and Income Tax Cut Bill Update

On Feb 23^rd the Idaho House of Representatives passed H521. This legislation (as we reported on last week) is a combination bill, that provides about $2 billion dollars over 10 years, to fund public school facility maintenance and new construction for Idaho’s K-12 schools. It also reduces Idaho’s individual and corporate income tax rate from 5.8% to 5.695%. H521 passed the House with bi-partisan support 61-6-3 absent. It has since been transmitted to the Senate and referred to the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee where it awaits a full hearing.

Idaho to Hold First Presidential Caucus In Over a Decade



Saturday, March 2^nd, Idaho will hold its first GOP Presidential Caucus since 2012. Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon says she will be keeping a close eye on Saturday's caucus turnout, noting only a 10% turnout for the 2012 caucus. Since 2016 registered Republicans have gone to the polls in March to cast their vote for the Republican presidential candidate of their choice.

Last year the Idaho legislature passed House Bill 138. That bill sought to save the state millions of dollars by eliminating Idaho’s presidential primary election in March. The intent was to align it with legislative primary elections in May. An inadvertent mistake in the drafting of H138 eliminated the March date but didn’t establish the May date. An attempt to fix the legislation passed the Senate in the waning days of last year’s session but was stopped in the House State Affairs Committee after Chairwoman Moon of the State Republican Party testified in opposition to the fix.

Idaho’s 210 caucus locations will be scattered throughout the state to attempt to bolster voter turnout. Vying for Idaho's 32 delegates are the two remaining presidential candidates, Former President Donald Trump and Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. For more on the differences between a presidential caucus vs. a primary election and what to expect on caucus day, click HERE.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.



Regards,



JEREMY PISCA

ROBERT ANDERST

ARICA TODD

LARA HERWAY

RISCH ♦ PISCA, PLLC

LAW & POLICY