Gov. Butch Otter isn’t giving up yet on his proposal to shift Idaho State Police funding off the gas tax and onto the general fund, said his budget director, Wayne Hammon. Even though JFAC has sent strong signals that next year’s budget won’t contain that move – setting a budget this morning for ISP without it, and a spending target that doesn't include it – Hammon said Otter still plans to present a bill to germane committees to make the shift, as part of his overall transportation funding package. “I believe we’re introducing it today or tomorrow as part of the governor’s big package,” Hammon said. If germane committees supported the plan and it passed both houses, JFAC could send a trailer bill to fund it, he said. “I still believe there’s room in the general fund budget to do it,” Hammon said. “If it dies in the germane committee, that’s a whole ‘nother deal.”

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