So last night at the District 17 legislative forum I found out that public transit here in Idaho could possibly take a big hit, especially in the Treasure Valley without the ability for public decision tax bills. Currently in Idaho we are not allowed to put local option taxes on the ballot. These are the taxes for building that proposed trolley system or light rail, or for other local infrastructure, currently those projects can only be funded by the state.
But as state budgets have been strained by loss of revenue and greater needs in health care and education as our state grows, public transit may take a big hit down the road so to speak. I write this as I think about the inconvenience of waiting for a late bus to get to work on a snowy morning a few weeks ago, or missing the bus just barely trying to get home after work and waiting for the next one to come in half an hour.
Meanwhile it seems the truck speed bill may become a Zombie in the form of raising truck speed limits to 70 rather than 75. HMMM... is all I can say since no real consideration has been given to lowering weight limits so faster trucks will at least weigh less to balance out the difference in maintenance and safety. Oh well a good idea doesn't seem to matter in Idaho if it comes from Boise.
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