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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><img width="624" height="147" style="width:6.5in;height:1.5277in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D6FBC5.E4988C20"></span><span class="xeop"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="xeop"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">February 5, 2021<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">January revenues blow past projections again, demonstrating Idaho’s continued economic strength<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Boise, Idaho - Idaho’s economy continues to strengthen, with Idaho leading states for the best financial shape and January revenue figures beating the forecast by $58.5 million. It marks the seventh
 straight month that the state’s economy outperformed projections.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">“An open economy, relentless focus on fiscal conservatism, quick action throughout the pandemic, and Idahoans’ preventive actions against COVID-19 have positioned Idaho with the strongest economy
 in the nation and a historic record budget surplus,” Governor Little said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">The Division of Financial Management released the January tax revenue report today showing Idahoans are working and engaging in the economy, with sales and income taxes coming in well above forecast.
 The report is available at <a href="https://dfm.idaho.gov/publications/eab/gfrr/gfrr2021/gfrr_feb2021.pdf">
https://dfm.idaho.gov/publications/eab/gfrr/gfrr2021/gfrr_feb2021.pdf</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Governor Little’s proposal for the record budget surplus is called “</span><a href="https://gov.idaho.gov/pressrelease/gov-little-highlights-plan-for-tax-relief-strategic-investments-in-2021-state-of-the-state-and-budget-address/"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Building
 Idaho’s Future</span></a><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">,” and it is making its way through the Idaho Legislature right now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Governor Little is proposing more than $450 million in tax relief – among the largest tax cuts in Idaho history – and strategic investments in education, transportation, broadband, water projects,
 and other areas. In addition, his “no frills” budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2022 leaves a prudent, bolsters rainy-day funds, and reflects his continued priority on education, including our valuable teachers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Idaho has been able to lead the nation in financial solvency through conservative revenue forecasting, setting aside healthy reserves, limiting government spending, and rolling back state regulations.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Governor Little emphasized the need for Idahoans to wear masks, keep their distance from others, and take other preventive steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 to keep our economic momentum going.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""># # #<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">208-943-1686 or </span>
<a href="mailto:marissa.morrison@gov.idaho.gov"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">marissa.morrison@gov.idaho.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">--<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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