OPINION: The private and religious school subsidy bill is a taxpayer boondoggle
House Bill 93, which passed the Idaho House of Representatives on Feb. 7, would exempt most families who take advantage of the $5,000 per student tax credit from paying any state income tax whatsoever. If their tax liability is less than the $5,000 subsidy, the state is required to send them a payment to make up the difference. In the words of the bill, “If the credit exceeds the tax imposed by [the income tax], the excess credit amount shall be refunded to the taxpayer.” So, they get out of paying any income tax and get a bonus payment to boot. That fits nicely into the category of having their cake and eating it too.
The subsidy bill would drain $50 million from the state treasury during the first year. Based upon what has happened in other states, that drain would likely increase to a torrent in future years. About 90% of that taxpayer money would go to subsidize religious teaching. And, by the way, Idaho’s Constitution strictly prohibits public money from being used to support any form of religious education. Every legislator has been informed of the prohibition, but some have turned a blind eye to the Constitution.
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