Bill description: HB 518 would require county tax collectors to provide certain information to taxpayers either in or with their annual tax notice. 

Rating: +1

Does it in any way restrict public access to information related to government activity or otherwise compromise government transparency or accountability? Conversely, does it increase public access to information related to government activity or increase government transparency or accountability? 

Idaho law requires county tax collectors to transmit, over postal mail or electronically, a tax notice to every resident they will be collecting property taxes from “prior to the fourth Monday of November in each year.”

Under the current requirements, these notices must include the following: the parcel number and market value of the property being taxed; the state, county, and city where the property is located; each separate tax on the property; any delinquencies on such property; and more.

HB 518 would add two items. First, the tax collector would have to list the expiration date of any bonds or levies that are a part of the tax on a property. The collector would also have to provide the tax information on that property from the previous year. 

Amendments made to this bill by the Senate on 3/11 allow the county treasurer to provide an insert with the tax notice instead of including this newly required information in the notice. They are also allowed to provide a link to a website where this information is available instead of including the information in the tax notice. 

(+1)
Analyst’s Note: This rating was updated to reflect amendments made to the bill on 3/11.