BOISE - A general idea of how Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter hopes to raise revenue to repair Idaho's crumbling roads and bridges was unveiled Wednesday.

Slow down, legislators said Thursday.

Legislators, in Boise for their organizational session, commended Otter for addressing what is expected to be a major issue of the 2009 legislative session. His chief-of-staff on Wednesday said the governor will propose increasing registration fees, raising the 25-cent-per-gallon state gas tax and taxing rental car use.

But in interviews, lawmakers said it is too early to know whether any of the proposals will be successful until the Legislature convenes in January and has new figures on state revenue. Otter issued a second round of budget cuts this week, bringing the total to 4 percent, or $130 million, of the current fiscal year.

"We'll take a look at them," House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, said of the proposals. "The proposals reflect the economic times, but it also recognizes the fact that we have infrastructure we've got to maintain."

During the 2008 Legislature, lawmakers and Otter failed to agree on a funding package to address ITD's estimated $240 million annual shortfall. The agency is exempt from budget cuts because it doesn't receive funding from the general fund and relies on user-fees, such as registration fees.

"You're going to have to have broad agreement on the concept," Bedke said when asked what's needed for something to pass. "There's general agreement - general reluctant agreement - that our transportation dollars don't go as far as they used to, but we have an obligation to maintain our road system."

Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, a former chairman of the Idaho Transportation Board who sits on the House transportation committee, is scheduled to meet with the ITD Monday about funding issues.

He commended Otter for starting conversation, but said it's too early to know exactly what lawmakers will see in a month, aside from a proposal to raise the gas tax.

"There's nothing concrete yet," he said.

Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, and co-chairman of the state's budgeting panel, applauded Otter for addressing the issue, while noting that how things will pan out is unclear.

But he said any new revenue must go toward road construction, not administration or equipment, and added that the Legislature needs to allow Ada and Canyon counties the ability to pass local-option taxes to allow ITD to address other issues.