March 8 election results, voters support school district ballot measures

IDAHO — Results from the March 8 election are in, and almost all school district ballot questions passed with voter support.

Idaho public schools receive funding through local, state and federal sources.

School districts can pool additional local funding through three means: supplemental levies, plant facility levies and bonds. The voters must approve all three options, as they temporarily increase property taxes on homeowners within the district’s boundaries.

Related: Bond bill to hear public testimony, school maintenance funding in question

How the three levies and bonds work:

• Supplemental levies: two-year commitments that require a simple majority – or 50% plus one – of voter support, can be used for any expense that helps maintain and operate a district like staff salaries or extracurricular programs  
• Plant facility levies: can be spread out over 10 to 20 years and require 55% voter approval, can be used for capital projects, building maintenance, site acquisition and capital purchases  
• Bonds: two-year commitments that require 66.7% — or a supermajority – of ‘yes’ votes that are used to fund capital expenses like new construction, renovations, land purchases and equipment  

Related: Education advocates push for new way to fund school construction costs

Most of the ballot measures on the March 8 ballot were two-year supplemental levies. Two, the Mackay and Valley County School Districts, proposed plant facility levies - which all passed. Vallivue was the only school district that ran a general obligation bond which failed by a mere .75%.

County election offices will report results as ballots are counted on their websites, linked below.

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UNOFFICIAL RESULTS BY PERCENTAGE:

Last updated on Tuesday at 11:41 p.m.

ADAMS COUNTY

• COUNCIL SCHOOL DISTRICT: $85,000 supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • Passed with 75.94%
• CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL DISTRICT: $100,000 supplemental levy for two years  
  
  • Failed with 56.86%, will combine with Washington County results

BOISE COUNTY

• BASIN SCHOOL DISTRICT: $495,000 supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • Passed with 66.67%
• GARDEN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT: $500,000 supplemental levy for two years  
  
  • Passed with 55.14%

CANYON COUNTY

• HOMEDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT: COSSA levy 
  
  • Failed with 56.25%, will combine with Owyhee County results
• CALDWELL SCHOOL DISTRICT: $4.1 million supplemental levy for two years
  
  • Passed with 55.31%
• MIDDLETON SCHOOL DISTRICT: $1.5 million supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • Passed with 63.32%
• VALLIVUE SCHOOL DISTRICT: $4.5 million supplemental levy for two years and $55 million bond that will pool funding over up to 20 years 
  
  • SUPPLEMENTAL LEVY: Passed with 66.16%
  • BOND: Failed, with only 65.95% of voter support - bonds need 66.7% to pass
• NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT: $8 million supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • Passed with 53.55%

CASSIA COUNTY

• CASSIA COUNTY JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT: $2.195 million supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • Passed with 66.73%, will combine with results from Oneida and Twin Falls counties

CUSTER COUNTY

• MACKAY SCHOOL DISTRICT: $748,664 plant facilities reserve fund levy accrued over five years and a $75,000 supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • PLANT FACILITIES RESERVE LEVY: Passed with 62.44%, will combine with Butte County results
  • SUPPLEMENTAL LEVY: Passed with 61.99%, will combine with Butte County results

ELMORE COUNTY

• GLENNS FERRY SCHOOL DISTRICT: $350,000 supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • Passed with 64.63%, will combine with Owyhee County results
• MOUNTAIN HOME SCHOOL DISTRICT: $2.7 million supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • Passed with 65.36%

IDAHO COUNTY

• MOUNTAIN VIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT: $1.7 million supplemental levy for one year 
  
  • Failed with 60.05% voting against
• HIGHLAND JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT: $499,000 supplemental levy for one year and a $50,000 plant facility levy for five years
  
  • SUPPLEMENTAL LEVY: Failed with 100% voting against, will combine with Lewis County results
  • PLANT FACILITIES LEVY: Failed with 100% voting against, will combine with Lewis County results

JEROME COUNTY

• VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT: $1.5 million plant facilities levy over five years and $300,000 supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • PLANT FACILITIES LEVY: Passed with 71.83%
  • SUPPLEMENTAL LEVY: Passed with 69.78%

LEWIS COUNTY

• HIGHLAND JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT: $499,000 supplemental levy for one year and a $50,000 plant facility levy for five years
  
  • Not reported at time of publication

OWYHEE COUNTY

• CASTLEFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT: $350,000 supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • Not reported at time of publication
• GLENNS FERRY SCHOOL DISTRICT: $350,000 supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • Passed with 83.33%, will combine with Elmore County results
• HOMEDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT: COSSA levy 
  
  • Passed with 72.29%, will combine with Canyon County results

TWIN FALLS COUNTY

• FILER SCHOOL DISTRICT: $500,000 supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • Passed with 65.14%
• KIMBERLY SCHOOL DISTRICT: $800,000 supplemental levy for two years
  
  • Passed with 59.72%
• CASSIA COUNTY JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT: $2.195 million supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • Passed with 100.00%, will combine with Cassia County results
• CASTLEFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT: $350,000 supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • Passed with 78.26%, will combine with Owyhee County results

WASHINGTON COUNTY

• WEISER SCHOOL DISTRICT: $350,000 supplemental levy for two years 
  
  • Passed with 65.48%
• CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL DISTRICT: $100,000 supplemental levy for two years  
  
  • Passed with 82.68%, will combine with Adams County results