Ballot measures pass in West Ada, Lewiston, Twin Falls, Bonneville

Across the state, from Bonneville to Lewiston, voters approved big-ticket school ballot measures Tuesday.

However, bond issues in several smaller districts fell short of the required two-thirds support. And one supplemental levy failed — in the embattled New Plymouth School District.

All told, voters approved $348 million in bond issues and school levies. Forty-four districts had ballot measures before voters Tuesday, with a collective price tag of $410 million.

Here are the results from Election Night:

West Ada: $95 million bond issue, passed; two-year, $28 million supplemental levy, passed.

The biggest bond issue of the night passed with 68 percent support, just clearing the two-thirds supermajority threshold. The state’s largest school district will use the proceeds to build a new high school and a new elementary school and expansions at Mountain View High School and Star Elementary School.

The supplemental levy renewal passed with 69 percent approval. 

Lewiston: five-year, $60 million supplemental levy. Passed.

The district received 82 percent backing, as voters renewed a supplemental levy that has been on the books since 1986. The levy accounts for 30 percent of Lewiston’s budget and covers salaries for 24 certified staffers and 164 classified staffers. Levy proceeds also cover extracurricular activities such as music and choir. 

Twin Falls: 10-year, $47.5 million plant facilities levy. Passed.

With 71 percent voter support, the district will renew a levy that has been on the books since 1958. The district’s to-do list includes roof replacements, technology upgrades, replacing heating systems and tightening up security at school entrances. 

Bonneville: $35.3 million bond issue. Passed.

The growing district’s latest bond issue will build a new middle school to accommodate 1,000 students. The measure passed with 72 percent support.

Middleton: $25 million bond issue. Failed.

The growing Canyon County district had hoped to design and build a fourth elementary school, and purchase land for new elementary and middle school sites. The bond issue received 60 percent support, but fell short of the two-thirds threshold.

Emmett: $20.4 million bond issue. Failed.

A proposal to remodel the middle school and high school and add a career-technical building failed badly, receiving only 41 percent support.

Marsh Valley: Ten-year, $9 million plant facilities levy. Passed.

Voters approved an increased levy with 80 percent support, the Idaho State Journal reported. The new levy replaces a $750,000-a-year measure.

Snake River: Ten-year, $7.5 million plant facilities levy. Passed.

With 70 percent support, the district renews a levy that has been on the books for 30 years. Snake River’s project list includes roof repairs at every school and excavation and paving of school parking lots. 

Jerome: Ten-year, $6.75 million plant facilities levy. Passed.

Voters renewed a 40-year-old levy with 77 percent support. Jerome’s to-do list includes roof repair and replacement, replacing and upgrading heating and cooling systems, tightening security at school entrances and buying land for a news school site.

Shoshone: $6 million bond issue, failed; two-year, $600,000 supplemental levy, passed.

For the third time since August, Shoshone fell short on passing a bond issue for a new multipurpose facility and a new vocational building, and modifications at the elementary school and high school. The bond issue received 58 percent support, according to the Times-News, but the levy passed with 72 percent support. 

Mountain View: Two-year, $6.2 million supplemental levy. Passed.

The sprawling north-central Idaho school district received 53 percent support to increase its supplemental levy. The new levy replaces a $2.66 million measure that makes up 23 percent of the district’s general fund.

Blaine County: Two-year, $5.98 million supplemental levy. Passed.

A levy to maintain programs such as pre-K and all-day kindergarten, extracurricular activities and provide pay raises passed with 62 percent backing. The district now plans to reduce its plant facilities levy by a corresponding amount.

Mountain Home: Two-year, $5.4 million supplemental levy. Passed.

Voters approved a levy that has been on the books since 2010. The levy accounts for about 11 percent of Mountain Home’s budget, and goes toward staffing, salaries and benefits, curriculum and classroom technology.

Orofino: Two-year, $5.37 million supplemental levy. Passed, with 70 percent support.

Caldwell: Two-year, $5 million supplemental levy. Passed, with 61 percent support.

Parma: $5 million bond issue. Failed.

The proposal for a new agricultural education building and other building projects received 64 percent support, but fell short of the two-thirds mark.

Wilder: $5 million bond issue. Failed.

The proposal for a new lunchroom and cafeteria, two vocational-agricultural classrooms and a vocational-agricultural shop received only 42 percent support.

Bear Lake County: Ten-year, $4 million plant facilities levy. Passed, with 78 percent support. (Source: Idaho State Journal.)

Wallace: Two-year, $3.6 million supplemental levy. Passed, with 63 percent support.

Cassia County: Two-year, $3.2 million supplemental levy. Passed, with 64 percent support.

Kendrick: Two-year, $1.62 million supplemental levy, passed, with 80 percent support; five-year, $250,000 plant facilities levy, passed, with 79 percent support.

Potlatch: One-year, $1.75 million supplemental levy. Passed, with 59 percent support.

Oneida County: Ten-year, $1.2 million plant facilities levy, passed, with 85 percent support; one-year, $290,000 supplemental levy, passed, with 84 percent support. (Source: Idaho State Journal.)

Aberdeen: Two-year, $1.35 million supplemental levy. Passed, with 71 percent support.

Meadows Valley: Ten-year, $1.314 million plant facilities levy. Passed, with 85 percent support.

Shelley: Two-year, $1.15 million supplemental levy. Passed, with 72 percent support.

Genesee: One-year, $935,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 77 percent support.

Basin: Two-year, $850,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 66 percent support.

Salmon: Two-year, $798,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 79 percent support.

Grace: Two-year, $600,000 supplemental levy, passed, with 66 percent support; one-year, $150,000 plant facilities levy, passed, with 69 percent support. Source: Idaho State Journal.)

Soda Springs: One-year, $728,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 70 percent support. (Source: Idaho State Journal.)

Buhl: Two-year, $700,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 64 percent support.

Castleford: Two-year, $700,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 86 percent support.

Glenns Ferry: Two-year, $700,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 55 percent support.

Weiser: Two-year, $700,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 76 percent support.

Firth: Two-year, $600,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 60 percent support.

Valley: Two-year, $600,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 76 percent support.

New Plymouth: Two-year, $580,000 supplemental levy. Failed, with 45 percent support.

Richfield: Two-year, $550,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 81 percent support. (Source: Times-News.)

Culdesac: Two-year, $500,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 81 percent support.

Kamiah: One-year, $500,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 58 percent support.

Kimberly: Two-year, $500,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 71 percent support.

Highland: One-year, $499,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 73 percent support.

West Side: One-year, $90,000 supplemental levy. Passed, with 90 percent support.

 

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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