Gem State Wire

Governor Brad Little has announced an additional $100 million in property tax relief for Idaho residents. This comes on top of the $205 million already included in House Bill 292, due to a budget surplus at the end of the fiscal year.

"Continued conservative governance resulted in the state ending the fiscal year with an additional $99.1 million because revenue came in stronger than expected and agencies spent less than they were budgeted," stated a release from the governor's office. "The surplus means Idaho property taxpayers will receive a total of approximately $300 million in relief this year."

Property tax relief was a significant topic during the 2023 session of the Idaho Legislature. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) played a role by advising lawmakers against raising sales taxes as part of property tax adjustments.

"Our members were decisive in not wanting property tax relief if it meant raising the state sales tax," said Suzanne Budge, NFIB’s Idaho state director. "Their 69% opposition to the idea on their 2023-member ballot helped dissuade many lawmakers from using lower property taxes as an enticement to get a higher sales tax rate. As a result, we were able to win some badly needed property tax relief without any gimmicks."

The views expressed by NFIB members through their annual state ballot are influential in Boise, as legislators consider NFIB to be a key voice for small businesses. Members are encouraged to look out for their 2024 ballots later this year, which will significantly impact next year's legislative decisions.