Idaho One Of 16 States With No Tax Policy Review Process, Report Shows

By Kelcie Moseley-Morris, Idaho Capital Sun

April 25, 2021

The Idaho Legislature is managing tax policy low on information and with no official process for reviewing exemptions and other tax policies, according to a recent report.

Langrill said 34 states have a systematic review process for tax policies, including Montana, Oregon and Utah. Those processes include standing joint interim committees, sunset clauses (which put an end date on the proposal) and performance measurements.

The committee voted to create a working group that would examine the creation of a review process for tax exemptions, but it also voted to set parameters and structure to the working group through collaboration with Berch and the other members of the Oversight Committee. Berch said he is hopeful the report will bring changes to the legislative process, and the fact that Youngblood co-sponsored the report with him shows a willingness to work together on both sides of the aisle.

“To have a senior Republican leader join with a freshman Democrat to address policy, I think that’s pretty significant,” Berch said. “It shows an indication that there is a bipartisan recognition that as the fastest growing state in the nation … that this may be a good opportunity for the Legislature to take a more holistic view of fiscal policy. Not just what we spend, but what we choose not to collect as well.”

Read the full report here.

The Idaho Capital Sun, the Gem State’s newest nonprofit news organization, delivers accountability reporting on state government, politics and policy.