Idaho's Shrinking Budget--Senator Brent Hill
Ever since Governor Otter proposed his budget in January, he has come under fire for doing what the Idaho Constitution demands of him: to not spend more than the state has. He incorporated many money-saving ideas received from Idaho citizens into his budget proposal—all of which, though helpful, made only a small dent in our budget problems.
Here are the facts: 94% of Idaho’s General Fund goes to what are called the “Big Three:” 9% to Public Safety, 20% to Health and Welfare, and 65% to education. That leaves only 6% to run all the rest of government, including state parks, water resources, agriculture, economic development, the labor department, etc.
