A task force formed to address Idaho鈥檚 transportation funding shortfall has disbanded after 18 months of work without making any specific road-revenue-raising recommendations.
Gov. C.L. 鈥淏utch鈥 Otter, who created the panel, announced he will not seek any new fees or taxes next year despite a task force finding that Idaho needs an additional $543 million annually to support its road system.
The needs are 鈥渞eal and growing,鈥 Otter said in a Nov. 23 statement issued within hours after the panel鈥檚 last meeting.
鈥淏ut too many people remain jobless, under-employed or on the ragged edge financially to impose higher costs on them right now,鈥 Otter said.
Otter鈥檚 announcement and the task force鈥檚 refusal to put specific dollar amounts on such options as higher fuel taxes and registration fees makes it unlikely legislators will address the transportation funding issue.
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