Voters denied the state’s largest education funding asks on Tuesday, putting the kibosh on a combined $112.8 million for bonds in Shelley and Pocatello, according to unofficial results. 

Pocatello’s $45 million bond — which would have funded enhancements at two high schools, including one damaged by a fire last spring — garnered just 56% support. And only 48% of voters supported Shelley’s $67.8 million bond, which would have funded a new high school.

It was the most likely outcome in a state where a bond’s odds of passing are less than a coin toss, thanks in part to the required 66.67% supermajority approval — one of the highest thresholds in the nation. 

“While we are disappointed that tonight’s outcome for the school bond proposal did not reach the supermajority threshold for voter approval, we appreciate and respect the democratic process and the collective voice of our community,” Courtney Fisher, the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District’s spokesperson said in a press release. “Although the bond’s failure presents challenges, the PCSD 25 Board of Trustees is committed to finding alternative solutions and working diligently to navigate this setback”

The board plans to “regroup and reassess” at a special meeting Wednesday evening. Its first priority will be “exploring viable options” to return the fire-damaged Highland High to “a fully functioning … facility as soon as possible,” Fisher said.

The Shelley School District released a brief statement noting “unprecedented” voter turnout and addressing next steps: “Moving forward, we will seek input from stakeholders to help identify a supported approach for expanding classroom space as our student enrollment grows.”

Most levies pass

Ten of this election’s dozen levies passed. Mountain View School District’s $3.1 million supplemental levy failed with 48% approval and the Basin School District’s $792K levy failed with 47% approval.

*All results are unofficial. 

Shelley: Failed — 48% 

• What: A $67.8 million school bond.
• What’s at stake? The proposal would pay for a new high school.
• Impact: The tax burden would be about $259 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. But with expected reductions from the state, the district expects the total tax burden to be about $221 for all its bonds and levies. Bonds need a 66.67% supermajority vote to pass.
• For more information, visit the district’s voter information page.

Pocatello: Failed — 56%

• What: A $45 million school bond.
• What’s at stake? If passed, the bond would pay for renovations and enhancements at Highland High, which was damaged in a fire, and improvements to Century High School’s gyms.
• Impact: The bond would add to the tax burden about $37 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value, per year. Already on the books, voters approved the renewal of the district’s 2-year supplemental levy in March 2023, and voters approved the renewal of the district 10-year school plant facility levy in March 2020. The district expects to receive from the state’s bond equalization fund an amount each year that will exceed the annual payments on the bond.
• For more information, visit the district’s voter information page.
• Check out past coverage of the bond issue: What does it take to pass a bond in Idaho? Maybe Pocatello-Chubbuck has the answer.

Nampa: Passed — 55%

• What: A two-year, $14,780,000-per-year supplemental levy ($29,560,000 total). 
• What’s at stake? This proposal would fund a myriad of school operations costs, including: $4.53 million for continued and supplemental salaries, $2 million for maintenance, $2 million for curriculum, $2 million for technology, $1.5 million for athletic turf, $1 million for other athletics, and a slew of lower costs for security, playgrounds and more. This levy would replace the district’s existing levy, which is set to expire in June.
• Impact: The tax burden would be about $72 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value, an increase of about $13 from the rate under the existing levy. However, the district expects the bond equalization fund to reduce that amount by about $20 per $100,000. Supplemental levies need a simple majority vote to pass.
• For more information, visit the district’s voter information page.

Kellogg: Passed — 59%

• What: A two-year, $2.95 million-per-year supplemental levy ($5,916,800 total).
• What’s at stake? This replacement levy funds up to 25% of Kellogg’s annual operating budget.
• Impact: The tax burden would be about $215.37 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value. That is a $146.42 drop from the district’s existing levy.
• For more information, visit the district’s voter information page.

Minidoka: Passed — 60%

• What: A two-year, $2,250,000-per-year supplemental levy ($4.5 million total). 
• What’s at stake? This proposal would replace the district’s existing levy. It allots $1.26 million for technology, safety and security projects, and another $1 million for maintenance, repairs, equipment and furniture.
• Impact: The tax burden would be about $81.64 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value.
• For more information, visit the district’s voter information page.

Wallace: Passed — 69%

• What: A two-year, $1,700,000-per-year supplemental levy ($3.4 million total). 
• What’s at stake? This replacement levy would fund the gap between state funding and actual operating costs in Wallace. The levy makes up approximately 33% of the district’s annual budget.
• Impact: The tax burden is expected to stay the same, at $268.74 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value.
• For more information, contact the Wallace School District.

Mountain View: Failed — 43%

• What: A one-year, $3.136 million supplemental levy.
• What’s at stake? The proposal would fund salaries, benefits, educational materials, technology and special education costs throughout the district. According to the district, it will use all of its reserves during the 2023-24 school year, minus the equivalent of four operating weeks. For 2024-25, this levy would keep schools operating.
• Impact: The tax burden would be about $171 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value.
• For more information, visit the district’s website.

Middleton: Passed — 59%

• What: A two-year, $1.5 million-per-year supplemental levy ($3 million total).
• What’s at stake? The proposal would renew the district’s existing supplemental levy, which is set to end in June. It would fund a range of costs, including: $500,000 for curriculum adoption, over $700,000 for certified and classified staff salaries, $80,000 for a school resource officer and $100,000 for building maintenance.
• Impact: The tax burden would be about $38 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. But taxpayers shouldn’t see a change, since the current levy also costs $38 per $100,000.
• For more information, visit the district’s voter information page
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Kimberly: Passed — 56%

• What: A two-year, $800,000-per-year supplemental levy ($1.6 million total).
• What’s at stake? The proposal would fill the gap between state allocations and actual operating expenses. It’s an extension of the district’s existing levy.
• Impact: The tax burden would be about $69 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value, a reduction of $6.28 from the district’s existing levy.
• For more information, visit the district’s voter information page.

Basin: Failed — 47%

• What: A two-year, $792,000-per-year supplemental levy ($1,584,000 total).
• What’s at stake? The proposal would fill gaps in state funding for salaries and benefits, school safety, curriculum, transportation and more.
• Impact: The tax burden would be about $73.11 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value, but that amount is expected to decrease after state reductions from the bond equalization fund.
• For more information, visit the district’s voter information page.

Salmon: Passed — 75%

• What: A two-year, $540,000-per-year supplemental levy ($1,080,000 total).
• What’s at stake? The proposal would fund arts and education programs throughout the district, including: $150,000 for athletics, $90,000 for music, $95,000 for vocational agriculture education, $18,000 for drama, $12,000 for the library and art and yearbook, and $70,000 for education materials. It would replace an existing levy that is set to expire in June.
• Impact: The tax burden would be about $25.27 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value, a $3.40 increase from the district’s current levy.
• For more information visit the district’s website.

Filer: Passed — 56%

• What: A two-year, $500,000-per-year supplemental levy ($1 million in total).
• What’s at stake? The bulk of this levy — $400,000 per year — would fund classified and certified staffing positions. The remainder would fund supplies and extracurriculars. This is a replacement levy.
• Impact: The tax burden is expected to stay at $51 per $100,000 in taxable assessed income, which is the current rate under the district’s existing levy.
• For more information, contact the Filer School District.

North Gem: Passed — 63%

• What: A two-year, $350,000-per-year supplemental levy ($700,000 total).
• What’s at stake? The proposal would fill in gaps in state funding to allow the district to maintain and operate its schools.
• Impact: The tax burden would be about $213 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value. The district did not provide any details about whether it expected contributions from the bond equalization fund.
• For more information, contact the North Gem School District.

West Side: Passed — 73%

• What: A five-year, $120,000-per-year plant facilities levy ($600,000 total).
• What’s at stake? Plant facilities levies go toward building updates, repairs and remodels, or other facilities needs. This proposal would replace an existing plant facilities levy in the district.
• Impact: The tax burden would be about $37.30 per $100,000 in taxable assessed income. That’s an increase of  $24.87 from the current rate of $12.43 under the district’s existing levy. This plant facilities levy needs a 55% majority vote to pass.
• For more information, contact the West Side School District.

Reporter Sadie Ditttenber contributed to this report.