ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Advisory panels urge business funding

Business leaders from around Idaho expressed support Friday for Gov. Butch Otter’s development strategy but urged even more funding for luring new companies to Idaho.

Three of the Idaho Department of Commerce’s advisory councils — the Economic Advisory Council, the Idaho Travel Council and the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission Council — met jointly Friday to share information about how the state’s economy is recovering from the recession.

Otter has proposed allocating $3 million to an opportunity fund for economic development. Margaret Watson, co-owner of the J.C. Watson Co., a Parma onion packer and shipper, urged business leaders to ask legislators for even more support.

“Three million dollars isn’t enough we have to be able to compete with all of the other states and globally,” Watson said.

Rocky Barker

TAX COMMISSION

Otter makes Jackson new chairman

Gov. Butch Otter appointed Rich Jackson as chair of the Idaho State Tax Commission, replacing David Langhorst, who will continue to serve on the commission.

Langhorst is a Democrat; Jackson a Republican.

“David has done a great job of calming the waters, restoring public trust in the Tax Commission’s processes, improving the morale of employees and ensuring the quality and integrity of the work they do,” Otter said.

Betsy Russell, Spokesman Review

EDUCATION TASK FORCE

First meeting spent on brainstorming

The 31-member task force charged with developing recommendations to improve public education convened for its first meeting Friday in Boise.

The committee includes teachers, lawmakers, academics, school administrators and members of the teachers union.

Statesman staff