District 91 asking for 10-year $33 million levy in upcoming election to build new elementary school
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IDAHO FALLS — A local school district is asking for a 10-year $33 million plant facilities levy to help build a new elementary school on the south side of Idaho Falls through a lease purchase agreement.
Idaho Falls School District 91 is asking patrons to vote in the upcoming election for the levy on May 16.
The District 91 school board, and district officials say the levy is necessary to build a new elementary school due to growth in the district. The new elementary school would have between 500 to 600 students.
“Sunnyside (Elementary School) is at about 150% capacity and we’ve done some boundary changes to try and alleviate a little bit of that. We were able to move approximately 100 students to a different school but it still leaves Sunnyside at well over capacity,” explained Hillary Radcliffe, D91 board chairwoman. “We’ve got to have an elementary school to be able to absorb all these students.”
A bond proposal last year in November was put in front of voters for $250 million. It was for a number of projects including renovations to a high school, a new high school and two new elementary schools.
RELATED | District 91 school bond for $250 million fails to pass
“When that bond failed, the (school) board looked at what some of the most critical needs were for the district and looked at different ways that they could address those needs and the levy is something that came out of those discussions,” said Margaret Wimborne, a spokeswoman for D91.
Not everyone agrees with the levy approach like Lisa Keller, a spokeswoman for a group called D91 Taxpayers. The advocacy group has historically opposed bond measures by the district.
“The problem all along is that we don’t trust the school board. They play games and this new plant levy is just a game. It’s just a way because they cannot get their bonds passed with a supermajority that is required,” Keller said. “They are now going to do this end run, around the supermajority because they don’t want to risk having to get a supermajority. This is breaking faith once again with their constituency. They just are doing an end run around the rules to do this rent to own scheme.”
Keller agrees there needs to be a school south of town but says a plant facilities levy is not the solution. You can read more about the group Keller runs by clicking here.
Bond issues in Idaho require a 66.6% supermajority support from voters to pass. The plant facilities levy only requires 55% voter approval.
RELATED | A new way to get schools built: plant facilities levies
Radcliffe said it’s a different approach that the board wanted to try and see if it worked for the community, rather than a bond. It has been discussed in public meetings for months, she said.
“You look at the support that we’ve had. The support of almost 58% (and) 59% in past elections, so it is an option that may provide more ability to get it passed,” she said.
The plant facilities reserve fund levy would generate $3.3 million a year for the next ten years. The district will use the money to build a new school through a lease purchase agreement. Lease purchase is explained as “rent to own.” According to the district’s website, a district contracts for the construction of the school, and then leases the building with the right to purchase it when all the money has been generated.
This is opposed to a bond, which would give the district all the money to build the school upfront, and the district would then pay back a loan.
“Levies are relatively new for municipal projects but they have been used successfully in other parts of the state so it was just a new approach to try and do what we can with what we have to try and build that new elementary school on the south side,” Wimborne explained.
The levy would cost tax payers an additional $47 a year per $100,000 of taxable value on homes or businesses. Click here to learn more. According to the district’s website, the district’s overall tax rate will be less with the new levy because the district’s 2012 bonds will be paid off in August and will drop off the property tax rolls.
Radcliffe is hoping the levy will pass and is encouraging patrons to vote.
“It’s at a point where it’s very critical on the south side of town, so we’re just trying to find a way to get this done and get this through and start addressing this problem and then move onto the next. This solves one piece of the puzzle,” Radcliffe said.
Additional voting information can be found here.