Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Tax Rebate topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Boise outlines property tax rebate program under HB550, budgets $900,000 and readies outreach
Summary
Staff reviewed Boise—s fourth year offering property tax rebates under HB550, noting about 1,500 recipients, a roughly 93% participation rate last year, an allocated budget of $900,000 and a targeted communications plan with mailers, postcards and door‑knocking ahead of a March application deadline.
City staff reviewed the property tax rebate program created under 2022 state legislation (HB550) and described outreach and funding for the coming application cycle.
Travis, introduced by the mayor to present the program, said the city has again used the HB550 option to provide rebates to eligible residents and that an ordinance spelling out administrative details will appear on the evening reading calendar. He urged residents to submit applications and reminded them that a key eligibility requirement is paying property taxes by the June deadline.
Travis said the program typically serves roughly 1,500 recipients each year — about a 93% participation rate among the roughly 1,600 estimated eligible circuit‑breaker recipients — and that the city has allocated $900,000 for the rebate program this year, an amount staff estimate should cover all expected eligible applicants under current projections.
He noted a change from earlier years: the city will not offer the $500 rebate to in‑home child‑care providers in 2026 because permitting responsibility shifted to the state.
Lindsay Moser of the Office of Community Engagement outlined the outreach plan: "Letters will be sent out immediately" (pending council approval), followed by two reminder postcards (January and February) and a canvassing push in early March to reach remaining applicants; website updates and in‑person assistance at the senior center will also be available. Moser said coordinated door‑knocking and staff outreach helped achieve the previously reported 93% participation rate.
In response to a council question about whether other Idaho cities have adopted similar rebates, Travis said that to the best of his knowledge ‘‘no other city has done this in the entire state,’’ though Lewiston has inquired and others found the administrative burden challenging. When a council member asked what portion the average $500 rebate represents, Travis said the rebate covers 100% of the City of Boise portion of property taxes, and estimated that the city—s share is typically about 40–45% of an overall tax bill.
The ordinance will be on the council—s 6 p.m. reading calendar for formal consideration; the work session did not record a final vote on the item.
