New jobs, big bonuses

What's the Tax Reimbursement Incentive?

According to the Idaho Department of Commerce, it's a proposed rebate for Idaho businesses that create good jobs. They'd have to pay income, sales and payroll taxes on those new jobs before ever getting a penny back.

"We literally will be putting the responsibility on the shoulders of the companies to determine their own success," Commerce Director Jeff Sayer told Bloomberg Businessweek in a Feb. 21 article. "We feel like we will be out front and competitive."

A business anticipating adding good jobs would negotiate beforehand with the Commerce Department and the Idaho Economic Advisory Council how much of a rebate - from 1 percent to 30 percent of the aforementioned taxes - they'd receive, and for how many years.

Companies in rural areas would be required to add at least 20 new jobs above the average rate of pay in that county; companies in urban regions would have to create at least 50. Local communities would also need to show their support by providing a financial match.

Steve Griffitts, president of Kootenai County's economic development agency, Jobs Plus, said adoption of TRI legislation would give him an important tool not just in recruiting new businesses, but in rewarding the ones that have remained loyal to Kootenai County.

"This is what Utah and other states have," he said. "I have a problem giving new companies money if existing companies can't get it. The [Tax Reimbursement Incentive] would give us a way to help them both, by returning some of the money they gave us in the first place."

The Jobs Plus board

Doug Wright, Panhandle State Bank, chair

Patty Shea, Avista Utilities, vice chair

Bryce Cyr, Jacklin Land, treasurer

Steve Widmyer, mayor, Coeur d'Alene

Troy Tymesen, city of Coeur d'Alene

Ron Jacobson, mayor, Post Falls

Linda Wilhelm, Post Falls

Ron McIntire, mayor, Hayden

Stefan Chatwin, Hayden

Vic Holmes, mayor, Rathdrum

Todd Tondee, commissioner, Kootenai County

Brad Hagadone, Hagadone Corp.

Joe Dunlap, North Idaho College

John Beutler, Century 21 Beutler & Assoc.

Charles Buck, University of Idaho

Denny Davis, Witherspoon Kelley

Jim Glenn, Titan Spring Co.

State Sen. John Goedde

Jerry Keane, Post Falls School District

Eve Knudtsen, Knudtsen Chevrolet

Tim Komberec, Empire Airlines

Brad Marshall, J-U-B Engineers

Jon Ness, Kootenai Health

Marie Price, Kootenai Perspectives