The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has set a budget for the state Tax Commission for next year that makes permanent 16.5 temporary auditor positions added last year permanent, as part of a multi-year, phased-in plan to add audit staff and close Idaho's "tax gap" - the difference between taxes owed and taxes paid. Rep. Darrell Bolz, R-Caldwell, JFAC vice-chair, said at a time when most states were cutting tax compliance staff, Idaho instead added auditors. "As of Dec. 31, 2011, this initiative has paid huge dividends by collecting an additional $72.8 million, of which $52.5 million is for the general fund, of revenues owed state and local governments that would not have otherwise been collected," Bolz said.

This is the final phase; no more additional auditors are proposed now. The budget requires the Tax Commission to give an update to JFAC at its fall meeting on its progress in closing the tax gap. Overall, the budget approved by the joint committee shows a 2.3 percent increase in general funds for next year, 2.6 percent in total funds. "The minimal growth in the budget is due to the good work of the tax commissioners and the employees," Bolz said. His budget motion passed on a unanimous, 19-0 vote.