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Sales tax growth largely earmarked by statute; staff warn reduced general-fund share could complicate future recessions

2123306 · January 10, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

JFAC staff reviewed sales tax collections and the statutory distribution formula, noting that statutory earmarks (revenue sharing, Techum, school modernization, tax relief fund) reduce the share flowing to the general fund and could constrain the legislature during a downturn. Members discussed a proposed additional Techum bond allocation.

Legislative budget staff presented a new overview of sales tax collections and statutory distributions, showing that total sales tax collections are growing but that statutory earmarks and transfers reduce the portion available to the general fund.

Staff told the committee sales tax gross collections were projected to rise from about $3.1 billion in 2024 to $3.37 billion in 2025 and roughly $3.5 billion in 2026. After refunds and transfers (including the statutory transfer to the tax relief fund for online sales), net collections available for distribution were lower. The statutory distribution formula (Idaho Code §63-3638) directs portions of net sales tax to revenue sharing (11.5% of net…

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