Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is hoping meetings like those in Caldwell, Coeur d’Alene, and Lewiston this week will drum up support among residents for new fee or tax hikes aimed at improving the state’s roads and bridges.
Otter has made a projected $240 million annual shortfall in transportation infrastructure funding his main priority, after failing to win support for increased fees and taxes for roads in the 2008 Legislature.
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter comments
At meetings this week, people who attended offered several ideas on improving Idaho’s highways, including erecting fewer stoplights, making contributions to new road building and maintenance voluntary and boosting mass transit. Otter is waiting for similar meetings elsewhere in Idaho before crafting a final proposal.
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Meetings are also scheduled next week in Idaho Falls and Pocatello; and Aug. 5 in Twin Falls.
For more information, visit the ITD Web site at itd.idaho.gov.
A governor-appointed task force has decided against new fees for Idaho’s kayakers, canoe paddlers and drift boaters. Governor Butch Otter has suggested non-motorized boaters start paying if they want to use state lakes and rivers to help cover the costs for services such as search and rescue and facilities.
Non-motorized boaters argue most of the services are directed at motorized boaters. According to the Idaho Statesman, a group appointed to explore the possibility of new fees ruled this week that the plan wasn’t feasible.
The governor, who is attending statewide public meetings on transportation funding hasn’t seen the report, but aides say he intends to follow the recommendation of the task force. (AP) (Idaho Statesman)
The state of Idaho and the Nez Perce Tribe have struck a deal that will return the sale of lottery tickets to the Nez Perce Reservation.
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter was at the Clearwater River Casino and Resort on Wednesday to sign a pact with Tribal Chairman Samuel Penney, making the agreement official.
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter comments
As far as the timeline for the lottery actually being up and running, Secretary of the Interior and former Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne has up to 45 days to approve the agreement, after which it has to be published in the National Register for 45 days before final approval.
The agreement comes after another record year for the Idaho Lottery that resulted in a dividend of more than $34 million.
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Lottery officials say fiscal year 2007 marks the fifth straight year of posting a new record for dividends. Since its inception in 1989, the Idaho Lottery has returned 402 million dollars to public education and state buildings.
Idaho Governor Butch Otter and the state Transportation Board are inviting the public to a series of meetings this week meant to provide information to citizens on ways the state plans to address future highway and road funding needs.
ITD spokesman Adam Rush says the series of statewide meetings are designed to incorporate input from state and local governments as well as residents for solutions to a growing backlog of transportation projects.
Adam Rush, ITD spokesman, comments
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The conference will be in Lewiston Thursday at the Red Lion Hotel located at 621 21 st. The public meeting will be conducted from 4 to 7pm PDT with presentations scheduled for 4:15, 5:15 and 6:15pm.
A group debating new fees for kayakers, canoe paddlers and drift boaters in Idaho plans to gather input and meet again in July.
Towards the end of the 2007 Legislature, Gov. Butch Otter suggested non-motorized boat users start paying if they want to use the state’s lakes and rivers in order to cover their share of costs for services such as search and rescue. Currently, motorized boats and sailboats pay fees starting at $20.
However, non-motorized boaters argue most of the services are directed at motorized boaters.
