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Committee introduces measure to limit pay and benefits for small taxing-district board members
Summary
Rep. Clay Handy introduced RS32498 to bar health‑insurance and retirement payments to members of many small taxing‑district boards and set a $100 per‑meeting default; the committee voted to introduce the request for statute (RS).
The Idaho House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Feb. 27, 2025 introduced RS32498, a legislative request from Representative Clay Handy that would restrict certain compensation for members of many small taxing districts across the state.
Representative Clay Handy, R‑District 27, told the committee the request would remove paid health‑insurance and retirement benefits for members of the listed small taxing‑district boards and set a standard notice‑meeting allowance of $100 per meeting where the code does not already specify a rate. "What we've done is taken...we have categorically, excluded any kind of payment to any of these board members for health insurance and retirement," Handy said, describing the measure as intended to curb what he called excessive or opaque payments.
The measure updates listings in Title 59, Handy said, and attempts to preserve any explicit amounts already in code while providing a $100 per‑meeting default where no amount is specified. Handy also told members he and staff had found some examples they considered "out of line" and that they would present those examples when the RS returned for a formal hearing.
Committee members questioned scope and consequences. Representative Gannon asked whether some board members could see reduced compensation; Handy replied that "I would suppose so," because some sections do not specify an amount. Handy told the committee the bill excludes highway districts for now: "We pulled out highway districts to address later," he said, identifying Ada County Highway District as a carve‑out.
Representative Monks said he supported moving the RS forward and asked Handy to bring back information showing the scope of the problem. Handy agreed to return with examples and visual material.
The committee voted by voice to introduce RS32498. Representative Raymond moved to introduce the RS; the motion carried on a voice vote with no roll‑call recorded.
Outside the committee action, Handy said the measure was prompted by complaints about board members compensating themselves and by concerns about transparency and election processes for those boards.
RS32498 is at the introduction stage; Handy told members he hopes it will be printed and scheduled for a formal hearing where staff will present detailed examples and background.
The committee adjourned after introducing RS32498 and other items on its Feb. 27 agenda.
