Little discusses legislative session

Overall, Gov. Brad Little said he was happy with how the 2023 Legislative session transpired, despite inevitable discomforts.

"It was even a little more painful this year because a lot of the big bills, they waited until the very end," he said Monday during a visit to the Coeur d'Alene Press office.

Little said he wasn’t too excited about new legislation that removes the March date for school elections. That was initially in a bill introduced by first-year Rep. Joe Alfieri, R-Coeur d'Alene, which was approved by the House, but never made it out of the Senate. It returned as part of HB 292, a property tax overhaul bill Little vetoed, in part because it included eliminating the March school election date. It became law on a veto override.

March is when school districts are planning their budgets for the next school year, Little said.

“That was why that March date was there,” he said.

Idaho's legislative session commenced Jan. 9 and adjourned April 6.

Little and his cabinet stayed busy tackling expenses and improvements across projects, sectors and industries.

Starting teacher pay was increased to $47,477 per year.

Little said he inquired about teacher pay in Spokane and Liberty Lake compared to Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene.

“It’s still high, but we’ve closed the delta a bunch,” he said. “Starting teacher pay, to me, is the right thing to do today, but you’ve got to send a message to those high school kids to go into that noble profession of teaching, and they can’t do it if they’re A. Not respected, or B. Not compensated.”

State general fund spending for Idaho public schools was increased by a total of 16.4%, nearly $380 million.

"This year we made the largest increase in discretionary funding, which means your school board will decide how to spend that," Little said. "Some of it’s going to be in the mental health area. Some of it’s going to be in necessary maintenance, some of it’s going to be added on money for teachers."

He noted the differences between school districts, even those in neighboring counties.

"An education dilemma in one area is different than it is in another,” he said. “That’s why I’m a huge proponent of school boards and the incredible sacrifices people make serving on the school boards.”

Little touted the Idaho Launch program, which will provide $8,000 grants for qualifying high school graduates to use at an Idaho higher learning school of their choice.

“Launch is absolutely a game changer," he said.

Idaho's parks will receive almost $100 million in funding as well, including Coeur d'Alene Parkway State Park off East Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive, and Farragut Park in Athol.

“We’re increasing boat docks and camping spots,” Little said. “More importantly, we’re addressing maintenance. Some of this money is ongoing — the best thing to do is take care of your maintenance.”

He said money has gone to fix state buildings as well as for upkeep on higher education campuses across the state.

“I predict that we’ll have a robust discussion over the summer and fall about, ‘What do we do about schools?’” Little said. “Part of the property tax bill is money that goes to districts to lower your levy or your bond indebtedness, or if you don’t have either one of them, it’s there to be available in the future. It will help, but it doesn’t solve the problems.”

During the session, the governor recommended public safety officers receive a 10% salary adjustment, which would have been a more than $6,000 annual raise for the average state trooper. The Legislature instead appropriated a 6% adjustment with $1.20 per hour.

He shared information about the fentanyl crisis in Idaho, for which a new website, fentanyltakesall.org, has been created. He also touched on Idaho transportation, including the progress that is being made on the Interstate 90 project from Washington to Coeur d'Alene.

“I’m just incredibly pleased,” he said.