BOISE, ID – The House endorsed another $100 million in tax relief Tuesday, shortly after the Senate approved the income tax cut. 

House Bill 304 would send school districts $50 million annually to pay down bonds and levies through a mechanism established by a 2023 property tax relief law. Another $50 million would go directly to property taxpayers. 

The House unanimously approved the bill Tuesday, although a couple lawmakers expressed concerns similar to those raised during the Senate’s income tax cut debate. 

“I’m all about reducing taxes,” said Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, R-Idaho Falls, who voted in favor of the bill. “…But at the same time, I think we’re in a situation that we would be a little bit foolish not to look at what’s going on in the economy around us.”

House Majority Leader Jason Monks, a Republican from Meridian and co-sponsor of HB 304, acknowledged that state revenue could decline in the future — or it could increase.  

“A lot of things can happen in our economy,” he said. “But I’ll ask you this question, ‘Who would you rather have holding the money, our citizens and our constituents or the state government?'”

HB 304 now heads to the Senate.

This story first appeared on Idaho Education News.