This morning the Idaho Senate overwhelmingly voted to kill Senate Bill 1220 by refusing to concur with the amendment to the bill made by the House.  

Senate Bill 1220 was originally an uncontroversial housekeeping bill brought by the Idaho Tax Commission to clarify the law on distribution of revenue sharing funds to local governments.  The bill was amended by the House to include a provision banning special purpose districts, like fire districts, highway districts, cemetery districts, etc., from spending their revenue sharing money on cooperative agreements with other governmental entities.

The amended bill was strongly opposed by local government officials, who argued that it would prohibit sharing of facilities and equipment that is a daily fact of life for local government officials throughout Idaho working to provide the best services for the lowest cost to the taxpayers.

We greatly appreciate all the city officials who weighed in against SB 1220 as amended.