Last updated 3:00 p.m. with election reactions from Bonneville trustees.

The West Ada School District’s $500 million plant facilities levy failed Tuesday night, according to unofficial county results. The levy set a record as the largest education funding ask to make it to the ballot. 

The levy would have paid for two new elementary schools, a new career-technical education center, and maintenance, repairs, renovations and expansions throughout Idaho’s largest district, which serves around 40,000 students. 

West Ada administrators reacted to the loss in a Wednesday news release.

“We are disappointed with the outcome of the election, but we certainly are not defeated,” said Superintendent Derek Bub. “We will pour all our energy into finding alternate solutions for our facilities needs, our kids deserve it. We honor and respect the decision made by our voters and continue to strive for excellence in all that we do.”

Jerry Gibbs of the Conservatives of Ada County had a different take.

“The $500 million ask of taxpayers was too much, at the wrong time, without enough creative, out-of-the-box consideration of other options and alternatives to save taxpayer dollars,” Gibbs said in a news release early Wednesday morning.

West Ada’s levy failed with 42.53% support, falling short of the 55% threshold required for passage. In total, 27,869 West Ada patrons voted in Tuesday’s election — 11,853 for the levy, and 16,016 against it. 

Bonneville trustees dismayed at low voter turnout, razor-thin bond failure

While the Bonneville School District’s 17-year, $34.5 million bond election remains too close to call, district leaders conceded the loss at a special meeting Wednesday. 

“I don’t think I have ever been more disappointed with a bond failure than I was with this one,” Trustee Chad Dance said.

The bond would have funded a new elementary school and roof repairs and replacements.

The razor-thin margin made the loss sting even more. By mid-afternoon Wednesday, the bond was failing with 65.26% support — short of the required two-thirds supermajority. Fewer than 200 yes votes would’ve changed the election’s outcome. 

On top of that, the neighboring Idaho Falls district saw its 10-year, $33 million plant facility levy pass with 70% support when only 55% was needed. 

Bonneville trustees were left wondering what went wrong. 

Dance said that since there was no organized opposition to the bond, he was surprised that more than 900 people voted against it. And he wanted to know why. 

Trustees were also dismayed at the lack of voter turnout; only about 2,800 votes were cast. Board members questioned whether voters were uninformed about the election, or just chose not to show up at the polls. 

Board Clerk Samantha Williams said district messaging about the election reached thousands of people, so it wasn’t a lack of awareness. 

Still, Trustee Randy Smith said there were stakeholders who didn’t get the memo.

“There’s a lot of unhappy mothers that just realized what happened,” he said, and advocated for sending students home with election information next time.

Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme said he planned to send out a survey to stakeholders to get more feedback. 

The board discussed whether to run another election in August or November. Trustees said August elections are often unsuccessful, as voters are out of town and school is just starting up.

Plus, Woolstenhulme said, the last time the district ran back-to-back elections it was “divisive” and “hellish.”

A November election seemed to gain traction, but the trustees will continue conversations and decide on future plans at a later date. 

Heath Jackson, director of human resources for the district, said it was time to start sharing harsh realities and urgent needs with stakeholders. 

“We’re out of room,” he said. 

If a new elementary school isn’t built, there will be serious impacts; classrooms will become more crowded and more students will have to be bused to other schools. 

“School as it looks right now can’t be the same because we’re out of space.”

Jackson said more straightforward messaging about the consequences of failed bonds could help “get rid of some of that voter apathy.”

Vallivue and Coeur d’Alene measures pass

Two other high-stakes funding asks passed: Vallivue’s $78 million bond issue and Coeur d’Alene’s two-year, $50 million supplemental levy. 

“To see the Vallivue community come out and support the district with such a strong vote of confidence is humbling,” said Vallivue federal programs director Joey Palmer. “It inspires us to keep working hard because we know the community appreciates our teachers and cares about maintaining a quality education for our students.”

Coeur d’Alene’s levy will avoid a financial emergency declared last month.

“The levy passing is the outcome we hoped for and we thank the voters,” Superintendent Shon Hocker said. “Levy funding allows us to continue to provide foundational opportunities to our students so they can be successful in the classroom and beyond.”

After two unsuccessful attempts to pass the levy, voters approved the measure with 63.47% support Tuesday. That approval, the district said, ensures the continuation of educational programs, avoids staff layoffs, and supports extracurricular activities.

“We know we have work to do to continue fostering transparency and trust with our community stakeholders,” school board chair Rebecca Smith said. “We will continue to find new and better ways to involve our parents, families, and the community in what we do.”

The school board is scheduled to rescind the financial emergency during a special meeting Wednesday evening.

“We are humbled by the trust the community has placed in us and pledge our commitment to continue to use the levy funding in the most financially responsible way to benefit our students,” Hocker said.

Check back later today for more results and reaction; senior reporter Kevin Richert has written an analysis of Tuesday’s elections. 

All election night results are unofficial until certified by the state. 

West Ada

Election result: Fails with 42.53% support; all precincts reporting.  

• What: 10-year, $500 million plant facilities levy.
• What’s at stake: The largest local funding issue in Idaho history contains 12 major projects and renovations at all 58 West Ada schools. Big-ticket items include a new $100 million career-technical education center for expanded instruction and student skill acquisition in high-demand fields, $70 million to build two new elementary schools to alleviate overcrowding in north and south parts of the district, $52 million for expanding and renovating Centennial High School and $32 million for to upgrading playground accessibility and safety.
• The process: A plant facilities levy requires approval from 55% of voters. A plant facilities levy, collected from annual property tax cash flows. West Ada asserts that this would save the county about $255 million in interest over its 10-year lifespan.
• Further reading: West Ada’s proposed levy would benefit all 58 schools

Vallivue

Election result: Passes with 71.21% support, all precincts reporting. 

• What: $78 million bond issue.
• What’s at stake: Two new elementary schools to alleviate overcrowding at six of seven district schools. New roofs and HVAC systems for Vallivue High School and East Canyon Elementary. Land purchases for future schools.
• The process: All bond issues require a two-thirds supermajority to pass. The bond will cost $78 million in principal and $38.6 million in interest.
• Further reading: District election information page

Coeur d’Alene

Election result: Passes with 63.47% support; all precincts reporting. 

• What: Two-year, $50 million supplemental levy.
• What’s at stake: The supplemental levy accounts for about a fifth of Coeur d’Alene’s annual budget. The largest slice of the levy, $7.2 million, is set for teacher and staff compensation. About $4.6 million goes into maintenance, transportation staffing. $3.35 million funds new elective, enrichment and CTE classes. And $2.82 million is planned for classroom and school resources.
• The process: A simple majority is required to pass this two-year supplemental levy.
• Further reading: District election information page

Bonneville

Election result: Early results show the measure failing with 65.26% support.  

• What: 17-year, $34.5 million bond issue.
• What’s at stake: With approved funds, the district plans to build a new elementary school and supply the money necessary to repair and replace school roofs. The new school will enroll 700 students in general education classrooms and provide additional classrooms for special education programming.
• The process: A two-thirds supermajority is required to pass Idaho bonds. This bond will cost taxpayers $36 a year per $100,000 of taxable property value.
• Further reading: District election information page

Idaho Falls

Election result: Passes with 69.6% support; all precincts reporting.  

• What: 10-year, $33 million plant facilities levy.
• What’s at stake: The district plans to use those funds to build a new elementary school on the south side of Idaho Falls through a lease purchase agreement. The district reports Sunnyside Elementary to be at about 145% capacity.
• The process: A plant facilities levy requires approval from 55% of voters.
• Further reading: Idaho Falls trustees approve a $33 million plant facilities levy for the May ballot

Lakeland

Election result: Passes with 54.6% support; all precincts reporting. 

• What: Two-year, $19.04 million supplemental levy.
• What’s at stake: After failing to pass a larger supplemental levy in March, Lakeland scaled back its ask. About three-quarters of the bond will go towards certified, classified, and administrative pay. There is also money budgeted to improve extracurricular resources and personnel, student transportation and safety.
• The process: A supplemental levy requires a simple majority to pass.
• Further reading: District election information page

Lakeland

Election result: Passes with 55.2% support; all precincts reporting. 

• What: Two-year, $2,293,040 plant facilities levy.
• What’s at stake: Lakeland plans to improve, maintain and repair existing buildings, acquire and improve school sites, purchase school buses and equip school buildings with necessary facilities.
• The process: A plant facilities levy requires a 55% majority to pass.
• Further reading: District election information page

West Bonner County

Election result: Fails with 48.41% support. all precincts reporting. 

• What: Two-year, $9.4 million supplemental levy.
• What’s at stake: In order to replace the current levy ending on June 30, the district proposes a two-year supplemental levy — which would represent about 33% of its annual operating budget. Renewed funding will supply a new bus, athletics activities, a school resource officer, salaries for teachers and support staff, textbooks, learning materials and training for staff and safety and security facility improvements.
• Further reading: District election information page

Hagerman

Election result: Passes with 55% support; all precincts reporting. 

• What: Five-year, $2 million plant facilities levy.
• What’s at stake: The district plans to combine $800,000 saved from a previous levy with the proposed $2 million plant facility levy funds to renovate or replace the Prince Memorial Gym as well as to address facility needs. The plant facility levy would maintain current property tax rates via maturing current plant facility and supplemental levies.
• Further reading: District election information page

Emmett

Election result: Passes with 57.53% support; all precincts reporting.   

• What: Two-year, $1.2 million supplemental levy.
• What’s at stake: New school roofs, front entry doors, and ADA compliant door handles. Safety lighting for exterior areas of district buildings.
• Further reading: District election information page

Emmett

Election result: Passes with 54.20% support; all precincts reporting. 

• What: Two-year, $800,000 supplemental levy.
• What’s at stake: Elementary counselors, instructional coaches, core content teachers and special education support staff.
• Further reading: District election information page

Weiser

Election result: Passes with 62.13% support; all precincts reporting. 

• What: Four-year, $1.24 million plant facilities levy.
• What’s at stake: With this cash injection, Weiser plans to upgrade safety measures at school entrances, address necessary building maintenance issues, and upgrade facilities.
• Further reading: district election information page

Payette

Election result: Passes with 57.99% support; all precincts reporting. 

• What: Two-year, $1 million supplemental levy.
• What’s at stake: Half of this funding would go towards developing elementary and middle school curriculum, one-fifth to upgrading the track, one-tenth to maintenance equipment, one-tenth to teacher compensation and one-tenth to building security.
• Further reading: district election information page

Whitepine

Election result: Passes with 72.89% support; all precincts reporting. 

• What: One-year, $880,000 supplemental levy.
• What’s at stake: About two-thirds of this levy is designated for salaries and benefits. The rest of the funds would be spread almost equally between security and technology upgrades, maintenance and operations resources, transportation, supplies and curriculum and athletics and extracurricular programs.
• Further reading: online ballot

Parma

Election result: Passes with 63.88% support; all precincts reporting.

• What: Two-year, $800,000 supplemental levy.
• What’s at stake: Over half of this levy would go towards certified and classified staff salaries and benefits. The remaining monies will be spread between extracurricular coaching stipends and services, technology upgrades and a school resource officer.
• Further reading: district election information page

New Plymouth

Election result: Passes with 50.84% support; all precincts reporting.  

• What: Two-year, $700,000 supplemental levy.
• What’s at stake: Over half of this levy would go towards certified and support staff salaries. About 15% would go towards a new bus. The remaining funds would be used to purchase athletic and instructional supplies.
• Further reading: district election information page

Salmon River

Election result: Passes with 57.74% support; all precincts reporting. 

• What: One-year, $495,000 supplemental levy.
• What’s at stake: This levy renewal would help pay teacher, special education and other classified staff salaries, in addition to funding extracurricular programs and technology.
• Further reading: district election information page

Nezperce

Election result: Passes with 71.43% support; all precincts reporting. 

• What: One-year, $445,000 supplemental levy.
• What’s at stake: Over half of this levy would go towards staff salaries and benefits. The rest of the money is set for curriculum and supplies, utilities, transportation, and maintenance bills.
• Further reading: online ballot

Cottonwood

Election result: Passes with 74.26% support; all precincts reporting. 

• What: One-year, $200,000 supplemental levy.
• What’s at stake: Almost half of these funds would be applied to utility bills. The rest of the levy will be spread between maintenance/janitorial repairs and supplies, technology, online support and substitute teachers.
• Further reading: online ballot