Voters reject measure to replace Valley View Elementary
BONNERS FERRY — Voters rejected both Boundary County School District measures, sending both a supplemental levy request and a school bond that aimed to replace the aging Valley View Elementary to defeat.
The $2.4 million supplemental levy would have replace the existing maintenance and operation levy and would not have increase taxes, district officials said previously. The measure would have cost taxpayers $98 per assessed $100,000 property value.
BCSD officials have said the first year of the levy will be reduced to $4 per $100,000 due to funding from HB 292 and HB 521, which reduces the cost of levies to taxpayers. However, per the bills, BCSD cannot say note on the ballot that these bills will be used to pay down the levy.
The levy would have cover safety, security, maintenance, all extra- and co-curricular activities, special programs, salaries and benefits above what the state of Idaho funds, field trips, curriculum materials, some technology and a new bus every year.
BCSD Superintendent Jan Bayer said previously said that if the supplemental levy failed, she would recommend the board follow voters' wishes and not fund any extra- or co-curricular activities.
There were 3,766 "no" votes, or 53.65%, compared to 3,241 "yes" votes, or 46.25%.
Like the M&O levy, a $10.5 million school bond which would have replaced Valley view was rejected by voters. It is the third time that a bond to replace the building, which was constructed in 1949 from recycled materials from the former Farragut Naval Base.
A total of 3,708 residents voted no on the measure at Tuesday's general election compared to 3,218 who voted in support of the measure.
The bond would have set a mill rate of about $33 per $100,000 and would have built a new Valley View Elementary in Bonners Ferry to replace the aging structure.
Due to inflation, district officials estimate it will cost $17 million to rebuild Valley View. However, BCSD has changed the bond language to cut costs and has accepted state funds for capital improvement projects.
Through HB521 BCSD has opted to accept the lump sum of approximately $5.3 million to go toward paying down the proposed bond. Part of accepting this deal is that BCSD will not receive annual maintenance funding by the state, which was originally part of lottery funds.
The $5.3 million lowered the amount needed to replace the school to $10.5 million. The measure would have consolidating the campus' six buildings into one and moved kindergarten students to the main campus.
Community input helped the district narrow the bond's focus, cutting a second gym. Other projects, such as the new grandstands at Mendenhall Stadium, traffic improvements at Naples and a shop expansion at BFHS, were covered by grants and partial donations.
The Boundary County School Board will likely discuss the election results at its Nov. 18 meeting.