Bill Description: House Bill 508 would allow governments to spend federal funds and grants to improve bike and pedestrian facilities.

Rating: -1

Does it increase government spending (for objectionable purposes) or debt? Conversely, does it decrease government spending or debt?

Idaho law limits the use of transportation dollars to improve bike and pedestrian facilities unless such improvements are “a secondary or collateral benefit to any highway project” or they are “necessary to improve the safety of pedestrian and bicycle facilities near schools, parks, or other designated pedestrian or bicycle areas.”

House Bill 508 would amend sections 40-117 and 40-605, Idaho Code, to allow the spending of “federal funds or grants” to improve bike and pedestrian facilities even it would involve a project that does not meet the other requirements.

Because federal dollars are largely debt-financed, any expenditures are effectively imposing a financial burden on future generations to fund today’s projects. Relying on debt is bad policy, and it is especially objectionable when it is for non-essential projects. 

(-1)