Growth + Affordability

Idaho Legislature property tax Republican

Idaho House to vote on property tax bill that would eliminate March election date

BY: - March 13, 2023

A bill that supporters say would provide between $205 million and $355 million in property tax reductions in its first year is heading to the floor of the Idaho House of Representatives for a vote. On Monday, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee voted to advance House Bill 292, a compromise property tax reduction bill […]

JFAC committee room at the Idaho State Capitol

JFAC approves $32 million in emergency rental assistance funding for Idaho

BY: - March 10, 2023

The Idaho Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee signed off on a $32 million supplemental funding request for emergency rental assistance on Friday after children’s advocacy groups spent weeks advocating for the funding. JFAC voted 14-3 to approve a supplemental funding request for the Division of Financial Management, where the emergency rental assistance request was housed. The […]

A crowd of mostly women on the steps of the Idaho State Capitol building, holding signs that are supportive of child care workers

Idaho parents, child care providers ask Legislature to reverse budget cuts as closures begin

BY: - March 8, 2023

Lakewood Montessori in Boise took a string of financial hits from the COVID-19 pandemic — from closures in early 2020 to ongoing inflation and worker shortages. And, like other Idaho child care centers, Lakewood used federal grants from the American Rescue Plan Act to add $300 a month to the paychecks of its employees. Lakewood […]

Student loan borrowers gather near the White House to tell President Joe Biden to cancel student debt

Black student loan borrowers at risk as U.S. Supreme Court weighs forgiveness plan

BY: - February 24, 2023

WASHINGTON — As the Biden administration prepares to defend its student debt cancellation program before the U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 28, data shows that Black borrowers have the most to lose should a majority conservative court strike down the policy. Black borrowers hold a disproportionate share of student loan debt, and many likely were […]

Idaho Legislature JFAC

Idaho children’s organization says debate over JFAC changes is holding up supplemental budgets

BY: - January 23, 2023

Officials with the Idaho Children Are Primary organization have told Idaho legislators that a debate over whether to change the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee’s voting procedures is threatening supplemental funding for emergency rental assistance.  On top of a supplemental funding request for emergency rental assistance, dozens of other supplemental funding requests are also awaiting action by […]

Boise State University Idaho Public Policy Survey

Boise State University survey finds 41% of Idahoans say the state is on the wrong track

BY: - January 20, 2023

An increasing percentage of Idahoans believe the state is on the wrong track, according to a new Boise State University School of Public Service survey released Friday. According to the eighth annual Idaho Public Policy Survey, 41.2% of those surveyed said the state is on the wrong track, versus 44.1% who said the state is […]

A collage of spreadsheet files for Idaho hospitals, showing nearly incomprehensible data

You can see what Idaho hospitals charge. Here’s what it will, and won’t, tell you.

BY: - January 16, 2023

How much does it cost to fix a split lip at your local hospital? Based on data hospitals are now required to share, it could be $208 or $49 or $570 — but it’s probably none of those. Hospitals across Idaho and the U.S. are required to publish what they charge for individual health care […]

Idaho Gov. Brad Little's State of the State address

Idaho Gov. Brad Little prioritizes education, property tax relief, infrastructure in State of State

BY: - January 9, 2023

In his State of the State address Monday, Idaho Gov. Brad Little called for implementing increases in education funding — particularly for boosting teacher pay and creating new college or workforce training scholarships — and setting aside $120 million to offset property taxes. Little delivered the 36-minute speech to a joint session of the Idaho Legislature at […]

"Welcome To Idaho" state road side sign

Idaho was second-fastest growing state in the U.S. in 2022

BY: - January 4, 2023

Fueled still by an influx of people moving from other states, Idaho was the second-fastest growing state in the country in 2022, with a population that nearly reached 2 million people for the first time in July, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Compared to the previous estimate in July 2021, Idaho grew […]

COMMENTARY
House keys sitting on an eviction notice received in the mail.

As affordable housing crisis continues, informal evictions harm Idaho renters

BY: - January 4, 2023

According to the Idaho Policy Institute, in 2021, Idaho averaged three evictions per day, which is an increase of 11% from 2020. Although these numbers are lower compared to pre-pandemic evictions, they don’t include informal evictions, such as landlords threatening or intimidating tenants, absent of the legal process. Idaho law defines “self-help” evictions to include […]

Fast Food Workers Rally For Higher Wages

Child poverty rates highest in states that haven’t raised minimum wage

BY: - December 26, 2022

Of the 20 states that have failed to raise the minimum wage above the federal $7.25 an hour standard, 17 have more than 12% of their children living in poverty, according to a States Newsroom analysis of wage and poverty data. Anti-poverty advocates say that’s a sign that there’s an urgent need for lawmakers to […]

COMMENTARY
For rent sign in Boise

Vital rental assistance helps Idahoans stay housed

BY: - December 22, 2022

Our neighbors, children, people who fix our cars, stock our groceries, care for our elderly parents and small children, teachers, farm and dairy workers, hotel and restaurant workers, church friends, seniors, people in poor health and with disabilities – all deserve access to a safe and affordable home that meets their needs. Yet many of […]