It’s an obscure date on the Idaho election calendar — but on Tuesday, five Idaho districts will head to the polls seeking bond issues and supplemental levies.
All told, voters will decide on $42.5 million in ballot measures. That’s a far cry from March, when voters across the state approved a whopping $695 million in bond issues and levies.
But by law, school districts can choose from four election dates. In addition to the March and August election dates, they can run levies or bond issues in May or on November’s general election day.
Here’s a rundown of Tuesday’s ballot measures:
Madison, $26.9 million bond issue. The bulk of the proposed projects are planned for Madison High School — including a 10-classroom addition, two new science labs, an event stadium, multipurpose track and a multiuse indoor facility. The to-do list also includes projects at Madison Middle School and all six of the district’s elementary schools.
The district says the bond issue would not raise property tax rates.
Like all bond issues, the Madison proposal requires a two-thirds supermajority to pass.
Shoshone, $6 million bond issue. The Magic Valley district wants to remodel school entrances, add new vocational and multipurpose buildings and replace classrooms.
If the bond issue passes, annual property taxes would increase by $90.48 on $100,000 of taxable property.
Grace, $5 million bond issue. Voters in this Southeast Idaho district will decide on a proposal to build a new elementary school.
Sugar-Salem, $2 million bond issue. This time around, this Eastern Idaho district wants the go-ahead for a list of projects — such as repairing heating systems, replacing bleachers in the high school gym and purchasing servers and improving Wi-Fi access.
The question of Sugar-Salem’s junior high school is on hold, at least for now. In May, voters rejected a $5.59 million bond issue for a junior high school addition.
Middleton, two-year, $2.6 million supplemental levy. If passed, this would represent an extension of a supplemental levy the suburban Canyon County district has collected since 2014-15.
Supplemental levies require a simple majority to pass.
