COEUR d’ALENE — Gov. Brad Little on Wednesday used two words to describe what happened with the Legislature last week: Extraordinary and remarkable.

“In 10 hours we created for the first time a flat tax in Idaho, we lowered the rates, we are giving back half a billion dollars with it being a minimum of $300 for a single filer or $600 for a dual file or a joint file, and then we made big investments in both K- 12 and in-demand careers,” he said at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

Little spoke briefly to about 350 people at the annual meeting of the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corp., better known as Jobs Plus.

“Overall, the state really couldn't be doing better,” he said.

Last week, Little signed the spending bill that includes $410 million for education and $500 million for an income tax rebate. It also creates a flat tax of 5.8%.

The bill passed the House 55-15 and the Senate 34-1.

The state has a $2 billion surplus.

“When you are in a position to where you're collecting significantly more money than you're spending, the natural thing is, ‘Let's just give it back,’” Little said.

He said the tax rebate was the simplest way to put the money back in he hands of the people.

Little said that is a wise move.

He noted that “the federal government, for whatever reason, has put trillions and trillions and trillions into the economy.”

“We know that this isn't normal. We know that things are going to normalize. So you don't want to spend to your revenues that are coming in. Because if normal is lower, you're either going to have to raise taxes or make some kind of a significant tax," he said.

“So as we grasp what normal is, we're doing what's the most important thing and that's we continue to put more money into K-12."

Little said his passion is literacy.

“We will continue to prioritize education spending and will continue to basically be pretty conservative in overall budgeting for the state," he said.

He said the state was in the “best possible shape,” and has paid off all the debt it can.

Next, he said the state plans to address a backlog of needs with bridges and roads.

He noted the state will be spending $78 million to redesign the Interstate 90 interchange at Highway 41 in Post Falls.

Little said he feels good about where the state stands and where it is headed. He said that about 85% of legislators supported last week's bill to cut taxes and fund education.

“That is, in fact extraordinary. That is, in fact, remarkable that we got that," Little said. "We've got that in the books, that's going forward."

Today, Little will hold a press conference on the Empowering Parents grants program at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy.

On Saturday, he will sign a proclamation to declare National Suicide Prevention Day at the 12th annual Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk, Break the Silence event at Riverstone Park.