'K-career' Otter's top priority

COEUR d'ALENE — Idaho has made the grade in many ways in recent years, but it needs to do its homework when it comes to educating a future workforce, Gov. Butch Otter said.

Otter told about 250 people attending the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce's lunch Tuesday at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn that an educated workforce is a high priority for current and future employers and the state needs to do its part to ensure that's done for when jobs are available or companies move here.

He said about 88 percent of the students who enter Idaho high schools graduate, but there's a significant dropoff at the college level when it comes to obtaining degrees or certificates.

"Where we have a deficit is that only 40 percent (of high school graduates) go on to get a license, permit or skill," he said. "Our goal is for that to be at 60 percent in 2020."

Otter said education — what he refers to as "K-career" to include the post-secondary level — will be his top priority during the upcoming legislative session.

"I need Kootenai County and every education corridor to build a workforce for the future," he said. "We can't do it in government alone."

The state estimates that it will be 95,000 workers short of demand in 2020 if the present trend persists.

Otter said this area has done its part to react to market conditions.

"When we have had new companies move in, this community college (North Idaho College) stepped up," he said.

Ron Ouren, senior vice president of Community 1st Bank in Coeur d'Alene, who attended the lunch, said hearing Otter gave him reassurance that Idaho is on the right path.

"He is so committed to Idaho and he's helped put us in a position so that we're financially sound," Ouren said. "I love his commitment to education. That's key to our success and will help us attract good companies to Idaho."

Otter said the state has received about $100 million more in revenue than was anticipated this year.

Otter said a stronger economy in recent years does not mean that the state will loosen its spending belt.

"One thing that we promised ourselves was that, no matter how good things get, we're not going back (to spending like before the recession)," Otter said. "We had to define the difference between nice and necessity."

Otter said he can't wait to tour the new regional mental health crisis center in Coeur d'Alene that's projected to open in mid-December. The center will be the second to open in the state — the other one is in Idaho Falls — and Otter hopes a third "stabilization station" will eventually open in the Boise area.

"We're way behind the curve of where we should be (with mental health treatment)," Otter said. "There's a lot of folks who need our help."

One attendee, who said he travels on the Washington side of the border rather than Idaho's when traveling south, asked about further U.S. 95 improvements in this state. Otter said the route on the Idaho side will continue to be a funding priority as it's a major transportation corridor.

"A lot of it has improved, but more is needed because that's our economic vein between northern and southern Idaho," Otter said.

The governor said Kootenai County is a reason Idaho is in "great shape." The state's unemployment rate is at 4.2 percent and a recent report stated that Idaho is eighth in personal income growth.

"I speak at chambers of commerce at other places and I hear about this problem and that problem," he said. "I don't hear that up here. I hear the optimism. I find that very comforting. This is one of the most optimistic places in the world."