House Revenue and Taxation Committee introduces 'truth in taxation' measure requiring mailed notice of local tax increases

The Idaho House Revenue and Taxation Committee on March 5 voted to introduce RS 32605, a proposal the sponsor called a "truth in taxation" measure that would require local taxing districts to publish a newspaper notice and send mailed notice to property owners before proposing a tax increase.

"This is a transparency piece of legislation," Representative David Cannon said as he introduced RS 32605. Cannon, a Republican from Legislative District 30 who represents Bingham and Butte counties and lives in Blackfoot, said the measure would require two notices before a taxing district could raise taxes: publication in a newspaper and a mailed notice — which he described as similar to a postcard — to property owners in the taxing district. "That notice and the notice in the newspaper would also contain the information for the public hearing, at which there could be public input with regard to their proposed budget," he said.

Cannon said the bill is intended to…