Excerpts from the State of the State and Budget Address by Governor Butch Otter on Monday, January 9, 2012

The following are excerpts from Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter's State of the State Address

….I want to see an Idahothat is more independent, dynamic, diverse and built on a foundation offreedom, personal responsibility and public accountability.  I want to see an Idaho focused not on scarcity or what welack, but on a more prosperous and hopeful future for all of us.

           

It’s with that Idahoin mind that I set my top two budget and policy priorities for 2012 and thislegislative session.  And the reality is,those two priorities are inseparable—jobs and education….

You will continue to see my administration focus onre-establishing the proper role of State government in our lives….

You also will see a greater emphasis on ensuring the efficiencyand prudent frugality that we’ve established in every agency of Stategovernment during the past three years become standard procedure.

But you also will see a greater emphasis on buildinginnovative public-private partnerships that leverage our limited resourcestoward advancing and achieving our shared goals.  That’s especially true when it comes tofulfilling the benchmarks of Project 60, putting more of our 65,000 unemployedIdahoans back to work and preparing our citizens to fill more of 18,500 jobsthat now remain vacant…..

Partnership is the key to a new program…It’s called IGEM forIdaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission. It’s patterned on successful programs in Utah and Virginia. A similar concept is being applied in Colorado, and industry increasingly iswrapping its arms around the idea….

IGEM involves industry, entrepreneurs, higher education, theIdaho National Laboratory and the Center of Advanced Energy Studies.  Together, their focus will be on creatingvalue on campuses that will help our existing businesses grow, nurture thestartup of new businesses, and create more jobs and opportunities for Idaho……..

The modest but targeted and responsible General Fundincrease I am proposing for public schools is the right path forward.  It will help our limited taxpayer resourcesgo further and make our K-12 education system more effective andcustomer-driven….I’m additionally proposing to fully fund the cost ofenrollment growth going forward at our universities, colleges and communitycolleges……

That’s why the budget I’m submitting to you proposes tobegin refilling our reserve accounts in preparation for the next unforeseen“rainy day.”  My Executive Budget calls for setting aside a total of $60 million in the Public Education StabilizationFund, the Budget Stabilization Fund, and the new Higher Education StabilizationFund…..

We have little control over the vagaries of the world andnational economy.  But we can ensureeconomic opportunity finds a welcoming home here in Idaho. Ladies and gentlemen, that’s why I’ve proposed that we set aside $45million for tax relief in Fiscal 2013…there’s also broad consensus on the needto reduce the burden both on our hard-working taxpayers and on those employerswho are looking for opportunities to grow our economy while creating careersand livelihoods.

We can seek to more equitably reward our most valued Stateemployees for continuing in public service. ..To that end, I’m proposing thatwe set aside $41 million from the General Fund in Fiscal 2013 to reward ourmost deserving employees, including our public school teachers.