Billboard Owners Lose Compensation

Gov. Phil Batt vetoed a bill Tuesday that would have required cities, counties and the state to pay billboard owners for their lost income if they required a billboard sign to be removed.

“There’s a great deal of uncertainty about the fiscal impact of this bill,” Batt said.

Batt also criticized a clause in the bill that said any billboard that’s been in place without challenge for five years would be considered “legally placed” and eligible for taxpayer-funded compensation.

“I’m not sure that’s in the public interest,” the governor said.

Batt also said that under the bill, a billboard owner could refuse to negotiate an agreement for moving a sign, receive taxpayer money to compensate for potential lost income, then just move the sign to adjacent property.

“I am a strong believer that government should compensate the owners of private property for any takings that may occur,” Batt said.

“I understand the state already compensates the owners of outdoor advertising under its current practices. However, I am open to discussions of any improvement that can be made in the process.”

This bill, however, is “overreaching in its impact and could open up the state and local governments to large claims,” he said.

The legislation was requested by a Boise billboard company, Idaho Outdoor Advertising. Although opposed by cities, counties, highway districts and the Idaho Transportation Department, it easily passed both the House and Senate.

, DataTimes