Bill to eliminate two school election dates passes house

BOISE — Legislation which would eliminate two of Idaho’s four school bond and levy elections dates passed in the Idaho House of Representatives on Feb. 10. House bill 58, which would eliminate election dates in March and August, now heads to the Idaho State Senate before becoming law.

The bill passed with a vote 43-26-1, with Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay, voting in support and first-term Rep. Mark Sauter, R-Dover, voting against.

If it is approved by the Idaho Senate, and signed by Idaho Gov. Brad Little, Idaho schools will be required to run ballot measures in conjunction with the primary and general elections in May and November.

Idaho currently allows school districts to hold elections four times a year: the second Tuesday in March, third Tuesday in May, last Tuesday in August and the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Bill sponsor Joe Alfieri, R-Coeur d’Alene, said having fewer elections would save counties about a million dollars by not having to hold school elections which often have low voter turnout when held on their own.

“It’s not right for a small percentage of the population to determine how taxes are spent,” he said.

In March 2022, Boundary County School District 101 ran a bond election for a new Valley View Elementary, repairs to other district facilities, including the stands at Mendenhall Stadium and expansion to the high school's shop.

The bond failed with 54.79% of voters voting “yes” and 46.21% of voters voting “no” votes. 2,153 of the 7,227 registered voters in Boundary County voted in the March 2022 election, or approximately 29.79%.

In August 2022, BCSD101 ran the bond again, this time removing repairs to other district facilities and expansion to the shop. The bond failed a second time with 40.94% of voters voting “yes” and 59.06% voting “no.” A total of 3,473 votes were cast.

The August election saw an additional 111 registered voters with a 47% voter turnout.

Boundary County School District Vice Chair Teresa Rae spoke against the bill during public comment and requested it be held in committee. She noted that in 2008, the state decreased the number of election dates for school districts, but kept a requirement for a super majority for levy to pass.

“Idaho is one of two states requiring a supermajority for a bond and is why we are over one billion dollars behind on public school maintenance. Simply put, we can't get anything done,” Rae said.

Levies are no longer supplementary, but are now necessary to pay for state and federal mandates, she said. Of the state’s 115 school districts, 92 ran levies totaling $27 million. In Boundary County, the supplemental levy makes up 20% of its budget.

Rae said districts often run levies in March because the timing helps with funding during negotiations so employment contracts can be issued in April and signed by May.

“This lets us lock in certificated staff and lets us go out to hire in June, prepare a balanced budget, retain and recruit quality staff,” she said. “Running levy to stabilize budget in May is too late.”

Also speaking during public comment was Boundary County resident Darcy Lammers.

“[I’m] not opposed to paying my fair share on levy or bond,” he said. “I feel like votes are not adequately represented in off elections.”

He added that it could be fiscally responsible to cut extra elections.

This is not the first time Republican legislators have tried to reduce the number of school election dates in Idaho.

Likewise in 2020, House Bill 393 would have eliminated the March and August school election dates. The Idaho House of Representatives voted 45-20 to pass the bill. It never advanced in the Idaho Senate.

In 2021, House Bill 106 would have eliminated the August school election date and passed on a 45-24 vote — but it too never advanced in the Idaho Senate.

BCSD is running their supplementary bond in the March 16 election. For more information on the levy, visit bcsd.org.