Idaho Lawmakers Consider Changes to Urban Renewal Laws

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A group of Idaho lawmakers are narrowing down recommendations on how to improve oversight on boards that helped lure major companies to the state.

The 10-member Urban Renewal Agency Interim Committee met Monday to discuss possible changes, but will hold off from finalizing possible legislation until their December meeting. Urban renewal agencies collect taxes from improvements in their municipal districts and use that money to attract and finance new projects, particularly in blighted areas.

Lawmakers agreed that urban renewal districts should remain flexible in how they select members, but a handful voiced concerns over allowing municipalities to hold elections to fill the positions. Others urged creating measures to prevent urban renewal districts from bypassing a public vote to build public projects.