In August 2006, U.S. Sen. Jim Risch was midway through his seven-month stint as Idaho’s governor when he brokered a deal to slash Idaho property taxes. Risch’s eliminated $260 million in public school property tax levies and uses a $210 million sales tax increase to make up most of the difference. The legislative action took place during a special one-day legislative session on Aug. 25, 2006.  Journalist Kevin Richert analyzed what happened over the past decade, in terms of property taxes, property values and student attendance. This is a look back at the politics that changed the way Idaho pays for its schools.