In offering Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter his suggestions to raise money for roads, state Rep. Leon Smith of Twin Falls literally mailed in his ideas.

The Twin Falls Republican in June sent Otter a three-page letter with ideas to raise the estimated $240 million revenue shortfall for roads.

Among them:

• Raise fuel tax 5 cents to get $47 million, and possibly put a sales tax on fuel price, not quantity.

• Increase registration fees to raise $125 million over two years.

• Divert sales tax on tires and vehicle items to get $29 million (Smith concedes this shifts from the general fund).

• Allow local option taxes, particularly to help congestion in Boise.

Smith, a former Idaho Transportation Department Board chairman, also wants any new revenue raised to be distributed among the six districts through a specific formula. He said the Boise area would still get about a third of funding, but districts would be treated more fairly.

"Some of the districts are being ignored," he said Tuesday. "We're (District 4) doing very poorly. We probably only get $120 million a year and it's a big district."

Smith said he hopes the letter shows Otter the need and provides a plan. He noted there's a perception that ITD could use new revenue to build offices or purchase vehicles.

"Let's make sure the people of the state of Idaho who are being taxed feel like they're going to be getting back something in the way of improvements to the infrastructure," Smith said.

While many of his concepts have been suggested in the past, it's possible they will return at the 2009 Legislature.

Earlier this year, Smith successfully proposed and pushed through a bill authorizing an independent audit of the ITD.

And in 2007, Smith was called in by Otter to resolve a session-stalling transportation dispute between - a shock to Smith after House leadership rejected his bills earlier in the session.

Smith said House members and ITD officials also got a copy of the letter. He said Otter hasn't responded.

Jon Hanian, Otter's press secretary, didn't respond Tuesday to an e-mail or phone call.

Shown a copy of the letter, Rep. Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls, said he agrees with Smith but is skeptical about local option taxes.

He said there are local mechanisms to fund roadwork, and the taxes could hurt rural communities. He said he'd reconsider them if the taxes were shared regionally among cities or counties.

"Sometimes I feel a local option tax is for someone else to pay your taxes," he said.

Jared S. Hopkins may be reached at 208-735-3204.