2019 Legislative Priorities
1. Support expanding career technical education appropriations to eliminate waiting lists at Idaho’s technical education training centers, and support formulation and/or expansion of multi-faceted public-private sector partnerships in order to :
2. Reform Idaho’s liquor licensing policy while preserving value of current population-based liquor licenses (or legacy licenses).
3. Establish transportation infrastructure development and maintenance policies that are simple and efficient in generating necessary revenue to improve Idaho’s road and bridges.
4. Empower cities and counties throughout Idaho to hold a citizen vote to authorize a local option sales tax policy for local infrastructure projects.
2019 Statewide Issue Positions
Workforce Development and On-Going Training: The Idaho Chamber Alliance supports coordinated and focused efforts to better prepare Idahoans for the state’s growing business workforce needs. The Alliance supports continued appropriation of state resources directed toward workforce development, secondary and post-secondary career technical training, technical apprenticeship and internship opportunities, on-going employee retraining, and continued alignment of training policies. Funding, policy, and project activity outcomes must be responsive to business and industry workforce needs and linked to student and trainee job placement and retention outcomes.
Reduce Business Income Tax Rate: The Idaho Chamber Alliance supports Idaho’s efforts to lower business and individual income tax rates. These efforts assist local area chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and the Idaho Department of Commerce in recruiting, retaining and expanding new businesses in Idaho. The Alliance believes in further policy efforts to lower income tax rates. These include tax rate reductions and/or using revenues derived from on-line sales tax revenues to ensure Idaho’s income tax rates are less than or equal to surrounding states with an income tax. Lower business income tax rates will increase Idaho’s regional competitive advantage in attracting businesses and stimulating an even stronger economy.
Expand Local Option Sales Tax Authority: The Alliance supports the legislature granting local units of government authority to adopt a local sales tax to generate revenue for local community economic development and infrastructure projects. State local option tax policy will include community economic needs, designated infrastructure, and a revenue generation plan containing amounts, timelines, and projects.
Protect Urban Renewal Authority: The Alliance supports an accountable, community focused and taxpayer responsible urban renewal public policy. Urban renewal agencies (URA) and policy are important tools for local governments to build and revitalize their communities and local economies.
Idaho Business Development Incentives: The Alliance supports tax policy and tax incentives that support businesses to invest in job creation and business growth and development through rebates, credits, exemptions, deductions or similar methods.
Eliminate Business Personal Property Tax: The Alliance supports the gradual phase-out of the business personal property tax with provision for ongoing incremental replacement of lost revenue to local units of government and school districts tied to growth in state general revenue funds.
Transportation: The Alliance supports transportation infrastructure development and maintenance policies that are simple, efficient in generating necessary revenue proportionate to tax burden and transportation utilization. The Alliance further supports formulating policies and allocating resources to promote Investigate ways and means to promote efficient intra-state air transportation establishing Idaho business connectivity, business development and travel.
Scientific Research and New Technologies: The Alliance supports science-based research and development programs centered on cyber-security and other information technology systems, producing advancements in energy systems, fuels, materials, reactor systems, and safety and waste management alternatives.
Liquor Licenses: The Alliance supports reform to Idaho’s liquor licensing policy and procedures delegating to cities and counties control over issuance of liquor licenses for restaurants, while preserving value of current population-based liquor licenses.
Education Improvements: The Alliance supports formulation and implementation of a renewed five (5) year plan beginning in 2020 that builds upon Idaho’s previous education five year plan and promotes responsible growth in elementary, secondary and higher education funding, and fosters improved teacher education and training, recruitment, salary, and retirement policies.
1. Support expanding career technical education appropriations to eliminate waiting lists at Idaho’s technical education training centers, and support formulation and/or expansion of multi-faceted public-private sector partnerships in order to :
- Increase student and parent awareness about jobs and career opportunities.
- Support career educational classes in middle and high school curriculum to further encourage investigation of the trades and skill professions.
- Recruit, retain and place students into Idaho businesses.
- Establish business-based internships and apprenticeships programs for hands-on and state-of-the art learning and training
2. Reform Idaho’s liquor licensing policy while preserving value of current population-based liquor licenses (or legacy licenses).
3. Establish transportation infrastructure development and maintenance policies that are simple and efficient in generating necessary revenue to improve Idaho’s road and bridges.
4. Empower cities and counties throughout Idaho to hold a citizen vote to authorize a local option sales tax policy for local infrastructure projects.
2019 Statewide Issue Positions
Workforce Development and On-Going Training: The Idaho Chamber Alliance supports coordinated and focused efforts to better prepare Idahoans for the state’s growing business workforce needs. The Alliance supports continued appropriation of state resources directed toward workforce development, secondary and post-secondary career technical training, technical apprenticeship and internship opportunities, on-going employee retraining, and continued alignment of training policies. Funding, policy, and project activity outcomes must be responsive to business and industry workforce needs and linked to student and trainee job placement and retention outcomes.
Reduce Business Income Tax Rate: The Idaho Chamber Alliance supports Idaho’s efforts to lower business and individual income tax rates. These efforts assist local area chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and the Idaho Department of Commerce in recruiting, retaining and expanding new businesses in Idaho. The Alliance believes in further policy efforts to lower income tax rates. These include tax rate reductions and/or using revenues derived from on-line sales tax revenues to ensure Idaho’s income tax rates are less than or equal to surrounding states with an income tax. Lower business income tax rates will increase Idaho’s regional competitive advantage in attracting businesses and stimulating an even stronger economy.
Expand Local Option Sales Tax Authority: The Alliance supports the legislature granting local units of government authority to adopt a local sales tax to generate revenue for local community economic development and infrastructure projects. State local option tax policy will include community economic needs, designated infrastructure, and a revenue generation plan containing amounts, timelines, and projects.
Protect Urban Renewal Authority: The Alliance supports an accountable, community focused and taxpayer responsible urban renewal public policy. Urban renewal agencies (URA) and policy are important tools for local governments to build and revitalize their communities and local economies.
Idaho Business Development Incentives: The Alliance supports tax policy and tax incentives that support businesses to invest in job creation and business growth and development through rebates, credits, exemptions, deductions or similar methods.
Eliminate Business Personal Property Tax: The Alliance supports the gradual phase-out of the business personal property tax with provision for ongoing incremental replacement of lost revenue to local units of government and school districts tied to growth in state general revenue funds.
Transportation: The Alliance supports transportation infrastructure development and maintenance policies that are simple, efficient in generating necessary revenue proportionate to tax burden and transportation utilization. The Alliance further supports formulating policies and allocating resources to promote Investigate ways and means to promote efficient intra-state air transportation establishing Idaho business connectivity, business development and travel.
Scientific Research and New Technologies: The Alliance supports science-based research and development programs centered on cyber-security and other information technology systems, producing advancements in energy systems, fuels, materials, reactor systems, and safety and waste management alternatives.
Liquor Licenses: The Alliance supports reform to Idaho’s liquor licensing policy and procedures delegating to cities and counties control over issuance of liquor licenses for restaurants, while preserving value of current population-based liquor licenses.
Education Improvements: The Alliance supports formulation and implementation of a renewed five (5) year plan beginning in 2020 that builds upon Idaho’s previous education five year plan and promotes responsible growth in elementary, secondary and higher education funding, and fosters improved teacher education and training, recruitment, salary, and retirement policies.