Controversy springs up over what to do with Idaho's projected $162 million surplus

May 30, 2013

By Josh Altic

Boise, Idaho: Governor Otter's retired chief economist, Mike Ferguson, estimated a huge $162 million surplus in state revenue. Some, including Ferguson, reportedly see this as an opportunity to increase spending on issues such as public education and other key infrastructures. But Otter rejected the idea that the state should spend more money just because they have it. Otter said that he is "bound and determined that the government is not going to grow back at the same rate that the economy grows" and pointed towards the Great Recession to argue that government can make do with less spending through fiscal discipline and efficiency.