Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter said his goal is to encourage efficient policy-making Monday in his State of the State address, formally beginning the 2016 Idaho legislative session. To do this, he said education should be a priority.
“Ensuring that students are college and career-ready is as critical to employers as it is to Idaho”s young people,” Otter said.
Overall, Otter called for a 7.9 percent increase in public school funding, including more than $38 million to increase teacher compensation and the professional resources available to instructors.
“The most important learning resource our students have is the classroom teacher,” Otter said. “…teachers are encouraged to provide individualized learning focused on mastery of subject content and concepts rather than classroom “seat time.””
This is the second year Governor Otter has requested an increase in the education budget.
Otter said he also recommends providing more money to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Action Center. He said STEM has been helpful in preparing Idaho students for college-level classes. To help students with the cost of higher education, Otter said he will propose a “tuition lock” for universities. He said a tuition lock would ensure the rate that Idaho undergraduates pay when they first enroll in a post-secondary program will remain constant for at least four academic years.
“That brings greater financial predictability for Idaho students and their families while also providing an incentive for timely completion of a degree or professional certification program,” Otter said.
Otter said he intends to fund a third crisis center in southern Idaho as part of his budget recommendation for fiscal year 2017. There are currently two successful health crisis centers in Idaho Falls and Coeur d”Alene which Otter said have been a resource for those with mental health or substance abuse issues.
He said making healthcare more accessible and affordable for Idahoans has been a pillar of his policies since he took office in 2007.
Otter said he is pleased with the improvements to healthcare thus far, but he still wants to discuss the alternatives to Medicaid expansion.
He also hopes to focus on sustainability during this session, he said.
“I”m proud to announce that the Water Resource Board has drafted a statewide sustainability policy,” Otter said. “The board will conduct public meetings throughout Idaho in the coming year to gather suggestions on incorporating its findings into our Comprehensive State Water Plan.”
Otter also highlighted cyber-security in the state.
“Our task force is working to identify what more the State can do to detect vulnerabilities, prevent cyber attacks, mitigate damages and educate the people of Idaho on how to fight this global tool of crime and terror,” Otter said.
To assist that effort, Otter said his budget includes a request for $1 million to establish a cybersecurity program at Boise State University in partnership with the Idaho National Laboratory.
“It is my sincere wish that we undertake our work together in this legislative session without keeping one eye on the upcoming election,” Otter said. “Instead, let us proceed with a focused commitment to applying government”s proper role to our current challenges and to improving the lives of generations to come.”
Jessica Gee can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @JessicaC_Gee