IDAHO (Idaho Ed News) — Four of the six plant-facility levies on Idaho ballots passed as results came in early Wednesday. Most supplemental levies also passed.

Moscow’s innovative plant-facility proposal passed with 62.1% in support. Highland, Butte County and Valley’s plant-facility levies also passed. Weiser’s plant-facility levy fell short of the 55% threshold it needed to pass, while voters soundly rejected Vallivue’s levy with 53% opposed.

Supplemental levies in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls and Post Falls passed. Overall, 24 of the 32 supplemental levies passed. Eight failed.

Boundary County, Middleton and Clearwater Valley districts saw failures, a repeat of recent years. Levies in Payette, West Jefferson Kootenai also failed.

Idaho school districts asked voters for more than $308 million Tuesday. The requests nearly double the $159 million on the ballot last fall — and far exceed the $183 million from May. This election’s increase in requests is due, in part, to consolidated elections dating back to the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions. School districts can now only ask voters for additional funding from property taxes in May and November.

Note: The estimated tax burdens on the sample ballots below do not take into account property tax relief the Legislature passed in 2024.

Bonds

No districts will seek a bond this November. Idaho is one of two states that require a two-thirds supermajority for a bond to pass. A bond has not passed in Idaho since May 2024.

November has also long been the least popular time to run a school bond. A bond hasn’t passed in a November election in Idaho since 2017, when the Teton School District passed two.

Plant-facility levies

Six districts sought plant-facility levies — adding up to more than $99 million.

Here are the proposals and outcomes, in alphabetical order:

Butte County

Measure: $206,000, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would cover building maintenance and repairs.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $35.60 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, the same as the expiring plant facility levy. The levy needs 55% support to pass. See a sample ballot here. 

Result: Passed with with 65.4% support

Highland

Measure: $375,000, five-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would pay for building maintenance, including replacing boilers and upgrading facilities to eliminate safety concerns.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $31.74 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, an increase of $10.58 from the expiring plant facility levy. The levy needs 55% support to pass. See a sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 60% support

Moscow

Measure: A $65.6 million, seven-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would largely fund converting Moscow Middle School into a high school over the course of about seven years. Funds would also go to replacing the HVAC system at Lena Whitmore Elementary and renovating the former Russell school building to house the alternative high school and district offices.

Read more about the project here.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $280 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. The levy needs 60% support to pass. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 62.1% support.

Valley

Measure: A $1.5 million, five-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy will fund repairs and remodels to school facilities.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $74.81 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, a decrease of $26.61 from the expiring plant facility levy. It needs 55% support to pass. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 58.5% support

Vallivue

Measure: A $30 million, 10-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would pay for building updates and maintenance.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $24 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. It needs 55% support to pass. See sample ballot here.

Result: Failed with 53% opposed 

Weiser

Measure: A $1.4 million, four-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy replaces an expiring plant facility levy covering building maintenance.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $35 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, an increase of $4 from the expiring levy. The levy needs 55% support to pass. See sample ballot here.

Result: Failed with 53.5% support

Supplemental levies

Thirty-two districts sought supplemental levies, totaling about $209 million. They required a simple majority to pass.

These levies are listed below, alphabetically.

American Falls

Measure: A $5.9 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would largely pay for staff salaries and benefits at $2.68 million per year. The rest would cover classroom supplies and curriculum, technology and school resource officers.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $192 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, an increase of $13 from the district’s expiring supplemental levy. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 66% support

Boundary County

Measure: A $4.8 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The majority of the levy would pay to maintain current teacher and other staff levels at $1.4 million per year. The rest of the funds would cover safety, security, maintenance, extracurricular activities, field trips, curricular materials, technology, and a new school bus.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $93 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Failed with 51.2% opposed

Buhl

Measure: A $2.5 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would largely pay for staff salaries and benefits at $750,000 per year. The rest would cover transportation, curriculum and supplies.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $107.03 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Failed with 51.8% opposed

Butte County

Measure: A $320,000, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would largely pay staff salaries and benefits at $90,000 per year. The rest would cover curriculum, maintenance, transportation and interscholastic activities.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $55.30 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, the same as the expiring levy. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 65.1% support

Caldwell

Measure: A $11.6 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would largely pay staff salaries and benefits at $3.5 million per year. The rest would cover activities and athletics, school safety and security, transportation, maintenance, behavioral and mental health support, and accelerated learning programs.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $99.70 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 50.4% support

Camas County

Measure: A $450,000, two-year levy, and a $150,000, two-year levy

What’s at stake? The larger levy would pay for staff salaries and supplies and materials. The smaller levy would pay for the district’s music program.

Impact: The larger levy would cost taxpayers $70 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, the same as an expiring levy. The smaller levy would cost taxpayers $23 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, the same as an expiring levy. See sample ballots here for the larger levy and the smaller levy. 

Result: Passed with 66.1 % in support of the larger measure and 67.4% in support of the smaller measure

Challis

Measure: A $1.6 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would pay for classified staff salaries at $286,200 per year. The rest would cover classroom supplies, extracurricular activities, transportation, and other staff salaries.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $81.73 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, an increase of $6.94 from the expiring levy. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 62.6% support 

Clark County

Measure: A $500,000, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would largely pay for maintenance and transportation at $110,000 per year. The rest would cover staff salaries and benefits and classroom supplies.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $123.07 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, the same as the expiring levy.

Result: Passed with 76.75% support

Clearwater Valley

Measure: An $811,989, one-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would pay for staff salaries and benefits at nearly $300,000. The rest would cover special education services, extracurricular activities, curriculum, full day kindergarten and operating expenses.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $115 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Failed with 51.9% opposed

Coeur d’Alene

Measure: A $60.5 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would pay teacher and support staff salaries and benefits at $12 million per year. Career technical education, advanced placement and other academic programs are budgeted at $7 million per year.

The rest of the funds would go to school safety and health programs, extracurricular activities, technology, classroom learning resources, and operating expenses like maintenance and transportation.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $110 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, an increase of $19 from the expiring levy. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 58% support

Fremont County

Measure: A $3 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would cover staff salaries and benefits at $495,000 per year; another $430,000 annually would go to extracurricular activities. The rest of the funds would pay for curriculum, technology, musical instruments, and school resource officers.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $32.95 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 53.2% support

Genesee

Measure: A $1.2 million, one-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would pay for staff salaries and benefits at $589,000. The rest would cover special education, maintenance, transportation, technology, and extracurricular activities.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $367.88 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 61.2% support

Gooding

Measure: A $1.8 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: Most of the levy would cover staff salaries and benefits at $614,000 per year. The rest would cover school safety and security, curriculum, classroom supplies, technology, maintenance and transportation.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $93 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 55.6% support

Grace

Measure: A $900,000, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would pay for staff salaries and benefits at about $175,000 per year. The rest would cover maintenance, transportation, curriculum, technology and food services.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $131.90 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, a decrease of $14.65 from the expiring levy. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 70.6% support 

Hansen

Measure: A $580,000, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would largely pay for special services support at $90,000 per year and staff salaries and benefits at $77,000 per year. The rest of the funds would pay for extracurricular services, classroom materials and preschool.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $121.57 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, a decrease of $3.35 from the expiring levy. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 65.2% in support

Idaho Falls

Measure: A $22 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy largely pays for staff salaries and benefits at $8.4 million per year. Extracurricular activities take up another $1.1 million per year. The rest covers safety and security programs and maintenance expenses.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $124 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 66.5% support

Jerome

Measure: A $3.5 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would largely cover staff salaries and benefits at $1.3 million per year. The rest would cover transportation not reimbursed by the state and program and software licenses.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $60 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, the same as the expiring levy. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 52.6% support 

Kootenai

Measure: A $3.97 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would pay staff salaries and benefits with $978,275 allocated each year. It would also cover special education services ($374,395) and building maintenance ($217,000). The rest of the funds would go to athletics, career technical education, school security and a school resource officer.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $111 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, an increase of $34 from the expiring levy. See sample ballot here.

Result: Failed with 56.1% opposed

Kuna

Measure: A $7.2 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would cover salaries and benefits for teachers, coaches and school resource officers.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $53.64 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, the same as the expiring levy. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 60.5% support

Marsh Valley

Measure: A $2 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would pay for curriculum at $350,000 per year. The rest would cover special education services, literacy intervention, career technical education programs and extracurricular activities.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $42.10 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 62.7% support

Meadows Valley

Measure: A $887,600, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would largely pay for staff salaries and benefits at $340,800 per year. The rest covers curriculum, supplies, technology, school safety and athletic programs.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $54.81 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 66.9% support

Middleton

Measure: A $3 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would pay staff salaries and benefits at $510,000 per year. The rest would cover curriculum adoption ($450,000) along with school security, transportation, and technology.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $30 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Failed 51.9% opposed

Payette

Measure: A $3 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy in the first year would fund a gym and locker room renovation at $1.5 million. The second year it would fund new stadium lights, add a security vestibule at the primary school, and replace playground equipment, among other projects.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $121 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Failed with 52.3% opposed

Plummer-Worley

Measure: A $1.78 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would pay for staff salaries and benefits to maintain class sizes and existing programs at $521,864 per year. Another $158,496 would cover athletics and team transportation. The levy also covers student technology, engineering for a high school gym project and new carpet, desks and tile.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $41.69 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Failed with 52.1% opposed

Pocatello-Chubbuck

Measure: A $16.5 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would pay for staff salaries and benefits at $4.3 million per year. Custodial services account for another $1.3 million, along with curriculum, supplies and other instructional materials at $1.1 million per year. The rest of the funds pay for school safety, student activities and transportation, and technology.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $95.63 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 71.2% support

Post Falls

Measure: A $13.57 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: Maintaining safety, security, counseling, and nursing services, at $1.7 million per year, is the largest line item. It would renew extracurricular funding at $1.2 million and continue to cover staff salaries and benefits at $1 million per year. Another $1 million is allocated for student behavioral support staff. The levy also covers access to the Kootenai Technical Education Campus, K-3 literacy support staff and two new school buses.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $64.90 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, an approximate increase of $3.55 from the existing levy. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 54.9% support

Soda Springs

Measure: A $993,000, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would mostly pay for staff salaries and benefits at $948,000 per year. The remaining funds would pay for a school resource officer.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $60.37 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 65% support 

St. Maries

Measure: A $5 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy covers student support staff like school resource officers, bus drivers and librarians at $567,700 per year. It also pays for extracurricular activities at $552,000 per year and UpRiver School at $522,500 per year. The rest covers career technical education, elective courses, and the district’s preschool program.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $159 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, an increase of $38 from the expiring levy. See sample ballot here.

Results: Passed with 54.5% support

Teton

Measure: A $14.2 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would largely pay for staff salaries and benefits at $6.8 million per year. The rest would cover curriculum and district initiatives and programs.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $103 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, an increase of $31 from the expiring supplemental levy. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 63% support

Twin Falls

Measure: A $14.4 million, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would largely pay for staff salaries and benefits at $4.4 million per year. Another big-ticket item is safety and security at $1.5 million per year. The rest would cover extracurricular activities and maintenance staff.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $86 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, the same as the expiring supplemental levy. See sample ballot here.

Result: Passed with 65.4% support

West Jefferson

Measure: A $720,000, two-year levy

What’s at stake: The levy would solely pay for staff salaries and benefits.

Impact: The levy would cost taxpayers $100.73 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, the same as the expiring supplemental levy. See sample ballot here.

 Result: Failed with 56.3% opposed

EdNews data analyst Randy Schrader contributed to this story.