The Courier
NEWS
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
January 5, 2022
Vol 46 Num 1
Record Distribution to Idaho's Public Schools Ned Burns Appointed To
The Governor presented a Christmas gift to our public schools with a record-setting, giant check to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and Capital High School students of the Capital Singers, representing the money distributed to Idaho's public schools this school year. The distribution for fiscal year 2022 for public schools is $54,798,000, which is more than $2 million than the previous year. Total distributions to all beneficiaries in FY22 total $88,076,500, with 62% going to the public school beneficiaries. The distributions are the result of increased endowment land revenue combined with revenue from investments. "Through timber harvest and excellent endowment land management practices, along with prudent investing, we are proud to be able to give Idaho public schools this record amount of funding," said Idaho Governor Brad Little. "This speaks to the commitment of the Idaho Department of Lands staff and the Endowment Fund Investment Board who are committed and work hard on behalf of our children and the other beneficiaries. It also shows the Land Board's commitment to education and the school children of Idaho." "These endowment distribution funds are critical to Idaho schools to support and improve our state education system," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra. "We want to thank our educators for their hard work and dedication this year and hope they recognize the Land Board's commitment to continue these distributions to schools with our ongoing prudent management of endowment land assets and investments." The Land Board has approved an increase in distributions for FY23, with a 12% increase for public schools and an overall increase of 14%. There are nine endowment beneficiary funds that include Idaho's public schools, universities, state hospitals for the mentally ill and charitable institutions such as the state veterans homes, the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind and Idaho's juvenile corrections system. The Land Board is comprised of the Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Controller, and Superintendent of Public Schools.
You May Owe Taxes On Your Ill Gotten Gains
The Internal Revenue Service would like to remind criminals to report their earnings to the U.S. government. Drug dealers must report their income the same as any law-abiding citizen, and thieves must report the value of purloined items, unless those items are returned during the same year they were taken. continued on page 2...
District 26 Legislative Seat
Just before Chrismas, Governor Brad Little appointed Ned Burns of Bellevue to the District 26 House seat vacated by Representative Muffy Davis. Burns currently serves as the Mayor of Bellevue and is a realtor. He has previously served as a substitute for Representatives Sally Toone and Muffy Davis in the Idaho Legislature. Burns is a Democrat who will serve out the remainder of Davis' term, which ends at the end of 2022. When a legislative seat is vacated midterm, the political party of the legislator who left the seat submits recommendations for replacements for the Governor's consideration.
Idaho's First Influenza Related Death in Gooding
A Gooding County man older than 65 years of age has been reported as the first influenza-related death of the 2021-22 season. "The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is reminding residents that flu is here, and it can be very serious" said Dr. Leslie Tengelsen, Idaho influenza surveillance coordinator. "Influenza activity had been detected in Idaho and across the country ahead of the holiday season. With both influenza and the virus that causes COVID-19 circulating this season, we are concerned that the risk to Idahoans for both infections will increase as families and friends gather for the holidays. One important prevention measure to reduce serious respiratory illness for Idahoans is to get an annual influenza vaccine." Everyone over six months of age should get an annual influenza vaccine. Getting the vaccine every year is especially important for people at higher risk for serious flu-related complications including people with chronic health conditions, pregnant women, young children, and anyone 65 years of age or older. continued on page 3... "Older adults, young children,