House Approves Flood-Relief Bill Counties Would Be Able To Exceed Property Tax Limits To Pay For Help

Despite some opposition, the Idaho House has approved legislation allowing flood-stricken Panhandle counties to exceed property tax limits to deal with the disaster.

A House bill approved 54-13 and sent to the Senate on Thursday allows local governments to exceed the 3-percent cap on annual property tax increases if necessary to help pay for flood relief.

Opponents argued that would just add to the property tax bill of people who have suffered flood damage.

“It would put an extra burden on people who now have no way to work and pay for the taxes,” Boise Republican Rep. Ruby Stone said.

Democratic Rep. Charles Cuddy of Orofino, who sponsored the bill on the House floor, said the opposition did not surprise him. In fact, he thought there would be more.

Cuddy voted last year to impose the 3-percent limit on property tax increases from one budget to the next. The law has been in effect less than eight months.

But now, he said, it makes sense to allow local governments to exceed the limit to raise money required to qualify for grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Highway Administration.