The Simple Things

During the campaign, Donna Jones was derided as completely unqualified to serve as State Controller. She had a GED, her opponent had an MBA. However, in the business world, the college degree is rarely all that important, and state government positions are management more than anything else. Common sense is key in that and Jones showed that by stating the obvious:

As of the end of fiscal year 2007 on June 30, Idaho had a general fund balance of $247 million, said Idaho State Controller Donna Jones.“This near quarter-billion dollar surplus far exceeds earlier surplus projections made at the beginning of FY07,” Jones said.

Earlier projections had the general fund, the account used to fund most state government operations, reaching $139 million for FY07.

Even though corporate income tax collections were down, strong individual income tax collections contributed to this year’s larger than expected surplus.

“As a former legislator, seeing a surplus of this magnitude brings two thoughts to mind. First, taxes are too high on Idaho’s families. Second, instead of looking at raising taxes to pay for road and bridge repair, the Legislature could potentially use $200 million of this surplus to tackle Idaho’s backlog of road repairs,” Jones said.

Jones hit the nail on the head. We have a quarter of a billion dollar surplus and our “Conservative Republican” Governor is proposing a $200 million tax increase to fund road expenditures. Governor Otter’s response through a surrogate:

Here’s Gov. Butch Otter’s reaction to state Controller Donna Jones’ press release today urging against a tax increase for roads, and instead calling for spending the state’s surplus on road needs: “We appreciate the state controller’s suggestion, because we know she recognizes, as we do, the serious condition many of our roads and highways and bridges are in,” said Jon Hanian, Otter’s press secretary. “However, when it comes to one-time surpluses, there always seems to be many more ideas as to what to do with it than there are matching dollars to go around.”

So, we can’t use the surplus to pay for roads and a tax cut for Idaho families because the legislature’s going to spend this on special projects. Governor, control the spending! This is utterly lame. W. Lane Startin (potential 2010 Democrat Candidate for Governor) sounds more conservative than Otter on this:

We have the means to do address our highway issues now without raising taxes. C’mon, work with us people.

Indeed, we do. Sadly, the Governor is going the tax and spend route and it’s middle class Idaho families that are going to pay for the price.