Most levies were approved by local voters, with $259 million at stake

Updated at 10:23 a.m. to include two measures from Boundary County School District

It was an exceptional night for Idaho public schools as most levy asks were approved by local voters. The money will fund everything from salaries to buses and classroom supplies.

All four plant facilities levies passed, and only three of 24 supplemental levies failed. Levies failed in the Lakeland, West Bonner, and Boundary County school districts — all located in North Idaho.

The only two school bond measures on Idaho ballots also failed. Soda Springs’ bond, which would’ve funded a new high school, failed with 45% support. Boundary County’s bond, which would’ve funded a new elementary, failed with 46% support. In both cases, results were far from the supermajority approval needed.

Voters approved multimillion-dollar supplemental levies in five school districts, including Coeur d’Alene, where stakes were especially high because the levy comprises nearly 20% of its general fund budget.

Neighboring Lakeland, which relies on its supplemental levy just as much, wasn’t so lucky. Michelle Thompson, the district’s board chair, told EdNews last month that a failed levy would mean larger class sizes and less support staff.

Boundary County’s failed supplemental levy — which has been on the books since 1986 — made up about 16% of the district’s general fund budget.

This election marked the first time some school districts have run a measure in November — which will likely become a more common practice since Idaho legislators have cut the March and August school election dates.

With $259 million at stake, voters approved nearly $183 million for school measures.

Check out our full list of school measures below (all results are unofficial):

Bonds

*The tax burdens listed below are estimates and may change due to factors such as shifting market values, and how a district allocates its state tax relief dollars

Boundary County: Failed with 46% support

  • What: A $10.5 million bond
  • What’s at stake: This bond would have been used to replace Valley View Elementary, which was built in 1948, as well as a kindergarten annex and temporary modules.
  • Impact: It is unclear what the tax burden would have been. The bond would have required supermajority approval to pass.

Soda Springs: Failed with only 45% support

  • What: A 20-year, $55.2 million bond.
  • What’s at stake: This bond would have financed:
    • A new high school.
    • Projects at the existing elementary school, including additional classrooms, upgrades, and a new gym.
    • Related infrastructure, furnishings, and equipment.
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $301 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The bond will require supermajority approval to pass.

Plant facility levies

*The tax burdens listed below are estimates and may change due to factors such as shifting market values, and how a district allocates its state tax relief dollars

Homedale: Passed with 63% support

  • What: A 10-year, $9.5 million plant facility levy. 
  • What’s at stake? This levy will go toward:
    • Purchasing, building, or improving schools or school sites.
    • Demolishing or removing school buildings.
    • Adding to, remodeling, or repairing buildings.
    • Furnishing and equipping buildings.
    • Purchasing school buses.
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $119 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $170 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to decrease. The levy will need 55% approval to pass.

West Jefferson: Passed with 59% support

  • What: A 10-year, $3 million plant facility levy. 
  • What’s at stake? It will go toward building maintenance and purchasing new buses. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $90.94 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $90.94 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is not expected to change. The levy will need 55% approval to pass.

Challis: Passed with 67% support

  • What: A five-year, $250,000 plant facility levy. 
  • What’s at stake? This levy will fund:
    • Remodeling, repairing, furnishing, or equipping buildings.
    • Correcting safety issues in buildings.
    • Grounds improvement and maintenance.
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $5 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs about $5 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is not expected to change. The levy will need 55% approval to pass.

Hansen: Passed with 59% support

  • What: A five-year, $1 million plant facility levy.
  • What’s at stake? This levy will fund: 
    • Maintaining, repairing, and improving school facilities and grounds, including building a bus barn, continued renovation of a wing in the the elementary school, and district facility repairs and maintenance. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $86.15 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs about $120 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to decrease. The levy will need 55% approval to pass.

Supplemental levies

*The tax burdens listed below are estimates and may change due to factors such as shifting market values, and how a district allocates its state tax relief dollars

Bonneville: Passed with 60% support

  • What: A two-year, $11.6 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? The $11.1 million will go toward staffing costs, while $500,000 will go toward classroom resources and supplies. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $77.13 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $77.13 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is not expected to change. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Boundary: Failed with 46% support

  • What: A two-year, $4.8 million supplemental levy
  • What’s at stake: The levy would have paid for salaries, curricular materials, technology, a new bus, field trips, safety and security and more.
  • Impact: It’s unclear what the tax impact would have been. This levy was to replace an existing levy and would not have resulted in an increase in the tax.

Camas County: Passed with 61% support

  • What: A two-year, $450,000 supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? This levy will go toward salaries and school supplies and materials. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $104 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and currently costs about $104 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is not expected to change. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Camas County: Passed with 63% support

  • What: A two-year, $150,000 supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? This levy will go toward salaries and benefits for staff for the fine arts (music) program.
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $31 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs about $31 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is not expected to change. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Cascade: Passed with 58% support

  • What: A two-year, $1.3 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? The $1 million of this levy will go toward staff salaries and benefits. The remainder will go toward school safety and security updates, maintenance, transportation and food service. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $40.27 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs about $40.27 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is not expected to change. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Caldwell: Passed with 55% support

  • What: A two-year, $8.2 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? The $4 million will go toward staff salaries and benefits. The remainder will be used for athletics, school safety, an accelerated learning program, facilities maintenance, and transportation. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $75 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Challis: Passed with 61% support

  • What: A two-year, $1.4 million supplemental levy.
  • What’s at stake? Most of it (about $623,000) will go toward staff pay. Another $54,000 will go toward transportation costs, and $23,000 will go toward classroom resources and supplies. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $74.79 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $94.06 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to decrease. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Clark County: Passed with 74% support

  • What: A two-year, $500,000 supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? The levy will go toward staff salaries and benefits, classroom supplies, food service, and maintenance and transportation — including a bus purchase. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $130 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $138 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to decrease. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Coeur d’Alene: Passed with 70% support

  • What: A two-year, $50 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? The levy will be allocated as follows:
    • Teacher and staff benefits and salaries ($19.3 million).
    • Additional student classes, including AP, electives, and CTE ($12.2 million).
    • Sports and extracurricular activities ($4.1 million).
    • School safety and security ($3.8 million).
    • School operating expenses ($3.4 million).
    • School health services ($2.8 million).
    • School and classroom resources ($2.2 million).
    • Technology ($2.2 million).
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $93 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $93 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is not expected to change. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.
  • Related reading: Two North Idaho districts seek continuation of multimillion dollar levies

Fremont County: Passed with 58% support

  • What: A two-year, $3 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? About $1 million will go toward staff salaries and benefits and another $860,000 will go toward extracurricular and athletic expenses. The remainder will fund school resource officers, classroom technology, textbooks and curriculum resources, student Chromebooks, and musical instrument purchases and repairs. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $36 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $49 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to decrease. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Gooding: Passed with 61% support

  • What: A two-year, $1.5 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? More than $1 million will go toward staff salaries and benefits. The rest will fund school resource officers, safety and security, classroom supplies and curriculum, technology, and maintenance and transportation. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $84 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $86 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to decrease. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Hansen: Passed with 64% support

  • What: A two-year, $580,000 supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? Most of this levy ($167,000) will go toward staff salaries and benefits. The remainder will go towards extracurricular services, classroom materials and technology, and preschool and after-school programs. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $125  per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs about $122 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to increase. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Idaho Falls: Passed with 65% support

  • What: A two-year, $16 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? This levy will be allocated as follows:
    • Salaries and benefits for teachers and staff ($12.5 million).
    • Extracurricular activities ($1.7 million).
    • Safety and security staff, such as counselors, nurses, psychologists, etc. ($1.4 million).
    • Maintenance expenses ($800,000).
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $96 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $95 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to increase. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Jerome: Passed with 54% support

  • What: A two-year, $3.5 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? $1.5 million will go toward staff salaries and benefits. The rest will go toward purchasing new and used school buses; program and software licenses, and transportation expenses. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $66 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $37 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to increase. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Kendrick: Passed with 61% support

  • What: A one-year, $750,000 supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? $490,000 will go toward staff salaries and benefits. The rest will go toward safety and security; technology; maintenance and operations; transportation; supplies and curriculum; and extracurricular programs. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $315 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $383 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to decrease. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Kootenai: Passed with 56% support

  • What: A two-year, $2.7 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? If passed, $1.45 million would go toward staff salaries and benefits. The remainder would go to special education, the school resources officer, building maintenance, athletics, and CTE classes. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $87 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $79 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to decrease. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Kuna: Passed with 59% support

  • What: A $7.2 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? About $7 million of this levy will go toward staff salaries and benefits, including an additional six teachers to reduce class sizes. The rest will go toward technology and curriculum. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $65 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $47 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to increase. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Lakeland: Failed with only 48% support

  • What: A two-year, $19 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? This measure would have gone toward staff salaries and benefits. About $3 million would go toward extracurriculars and athletics, and the remainder would go toward transportation, safety and security needs, and curriculum. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $105 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $106 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to decrease. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.
  • Related reading: Two North Idaho districts seek continuation of multimillion dollar levies

Pocatello: Passed with 63% support

  • What: A two-year, $16.5 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? The levy dollars will be allocated as follows:
    • About $9.5 million for staff salaries and benefits.
    • $1.85 million for textbooks and supplies.
    • $1.5 million for technology, software, and staffing.
    • $1.2 million for extracurricular transportation and travel.
    • $1.15 million for custodial services.
    • $950,000 for extracurricular salaries.
    • $400,000 for school resource officers.
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $113 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs about $113 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is not expected to change. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Ririe: Passed with 63% support

  • What: A two-year, $754,000 supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? The levy will go toward a school resource officer, maintenance, curriculum, and salaries. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $94 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs $84 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to increase. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

St. Maries: Passed with 61% support

  • What: A two-year, $4.1 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? This levy will go toward extracurricular programs, UpRiver Elementary, CTE programs, advanced classes, electives, Heyburn preschool program, and student support staff (like bus drivers, librarians, and teachers’ aides). 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $168 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs about $168 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is not expected to change. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Teton: Passed with 64% support

  • What: A two-year, $9.9 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? The levy will go toward staff salaries, supporting student needs, and providing additional programming. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $83 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs about $83 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is not expected to change. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Twin Falls: Passed with 61% support

  • What: A two-year, $14.4 million supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? $8.8 million will go toward staff salaries and benefits. Another $3 million will go toward safety and security needs, including school resource officers and armed guards. The remainder will go toward school maintenance staff and supplies and extracurricular activities. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $91 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, and that currently costs about $72 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is expected to increase. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

West Bonner: Failed with only 48% support

  • What: A one-year, $1.1 million supplemental levy.
  • What’s at stake? This levy would have gone toward new buses, extra and co-curricular activities, child nutrition, a school resource officer, curriculum materials, two part-time staff positions, technology, and snow removal. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $23 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.
  • Related reading: West Bonner appoints new trustee, decides to ask for a $1.3 million levy

West Jefferson: Passed with 61% support

  • What: A two-year, $720,000 supplemental levy. 
  • What’s at stake? This levy will go toward staff salaries and benefits. 
  • Impact: The tax burden would be about $109.13 per $100,000 in taxable assessed value per year. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, 2025, and that currently costs $109.13 per $100,000. If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 is not expected to change. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass.

Idaho Education News data analyst Randy Schrader contributed to this report. 

Carly Flandro

Carly Flandro

Carly Flandro reports from her hometown of Pocatello. Prior to joining EdNews, she taught English at Century High and was a reporter for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. She has won state and regional journalism awards, and her work has appeared in newspapers throughout the West. Flandro has a bachelor’s degree in print journalism and Spanish from the University of Montana, and a master’s degree in English from Idaho State University. You can email her at [email protected] or call or text her at (208) 317-4287.

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