8/17/07-Two leading state lawmakers in Idaho are not in favor of directing the state’s unexpected $247 million budget surplus to transportation.
Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, and Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, who lead the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, would rather put the money toward “one-time” projects. The most likely uses would be for health care, natural resources and prisons, The Times-News in Twin Falls, ID, reported.
Gov. “Butch” Otter shared the same sentiment earlier this summer. The GOP governor and others have expressed skepticism over a suggestion by State Controller Donna Jones, also a Republican, to put the money into roads and bridges.
The Idaho government wrapped up their 2007 fiscal year in June with a bigger-than-expected $247 million budget surplus. State officials had expected the figure to be about $140 million.
Officials with the Idaho Transportation Department say the extra cash would come in handy because the agency needs $200 million to keep up with needed road and bridge work. The agency operates on a $500 million annual budget.
Otter said he would prefer to increase fuel taxes and some transportation-related fees to make up for the expected shortfall, The Associated Press reported.
Cameron and Bell said they would rather see a new method of raising funds for road work be found. The most likely scenario is higher taxes for transportation, they told The Times-News.
How the state will come up with more money for road and bridge work could be a major point of emphasis during the 2008 regular session.

7/16/07-An increase in taxes and fees for transportation in Idaho isn’t all that bad of a proposition for Gov. Butch Otter.
The governor recently repeated his endorsement for boosting revenues for road and bridge work in the state by $200 million. It could be a major point of emphasis during the 2008 regular session.
The Idaho Transportation Department last fall unveiled the plan to increase the state’s per-gallon fuel tax rate. Higher fees for registration and agency services also were revealed, The Associated Press reported.
This spring, Otter said the changes would likely be necessary. He cited fewer federal dollars for transportation that could leave the state billions of dollars short for work needed during the next 20 years.
Those concerns were revisited earlier this month when Otter said the price tag for fixing Interstate 84 and U.S. 95 are exceeding the transportation agency’s roughly $500 million annual budget and the $1 billion “Connecting Idaho” bonds-for-roads program, The AP reported.
Otter said he understands that the public doesn’t want to hear about higher taxes but he said the need cannot be ignored.
In November, The Idaho Transportation Board recommended boosting the 25-cent per-gallon fuel tax, as well as adding a sales tax to fuel purchases. They also recommended boosting fees for trucking permits.