Idaho senators nix tax break for homeless shelters

The Associated Press February 17, 2010

An Idaho Senate committee has shot down a proposed sales tax exemption for homeless shelters, saying it's not the Legislature's job to decide which charities deserve a break in tough economic times.

The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to kill a measure that would have saved five homeless shelters about $15,000 a year for the next two years.

With more than 3,700 charities across the state, Rexburg Republican Senator Brent Hill said it doesn't make sense to favor a handful.

Sen. Tim Corder, a Mountain Home Republican, says the decision to waive taxes is often arbitrary.

But Rep. Branden Durst, a Boise Democrat, argued the exemption would save Idaho money because nonprofits serve needy people who might end up in hospitals, jails or prisons.

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