BOISE -- On Tuesday, March 13th, polls will open for a special election to determine whether or not voters will support various school district levies. Some are new; others are renewals of current levies.
This is a breakdown of levy amounts and purposes from the individual school districts and district figures from the Idaho Department of Education. All district data is from most recent numbers available, which are 2009-2010.
Meridian School District
Spending per Student: $5,684.49
Average Teacher Salary: $45,254
Levy amount: $14 million for 2 years ($115/year per $100,000 taxable home value)
Money use: Restore 9 school days, teacher pay, replace current $4 million levy
District site on levy
Eric Exline, spokesman for the Meridan School District, says this year spending per student has dropped to $4,749 with a decrease of $3,300 for an average teacher salary.
Boise School District
Spending per Student: $8,186.49 (2009/2010) $7,400 (2011/12 estimate by district)
Average Teacher Salary: $56,721
Levy amount: $14 million for 5 years
Money use: Maintain class size, programming
Friends of Boise Public Schools site on levy
Nampa School District
Spending per Student: $5,560.32
Average Teacher Salary: $41,778
Levy amount: $3.58 million for 2 years (Part of the levy is continuation of previously passed levy. This portion would increase by $65.14/year per $100,000 taxable home value)
Money use: General fund for current programs, new reading curriculum and classroom technology
District site on levy
Caldwell School District
Spending per Student: $5,397.06
Average Teacher Salary: $42,560
Levy amount: $2.75 million for 2 years (Because the district is currently refinancing a portion of its construction bonds, district officials say homeowners should not see an increase in taxes.)
Money use: Maintaining physical operations and programs such as athletics and music
District brochure on levy
Vallivue School District
Spending per Student: $5,935.77
Average Teacher Salary: $43,422
Levy amount: $4.5 million for 2 years
Money use: Maintain current programs
District levy information
Middleton School District
Spending per Student: $5,578.15
Average Teacher Salary: $47,086
Levy amount: $1,060,000 for 2 years
Money use: Maintain current operations/programs
District levy information
Notus School District
Spending per Student: $6,998.87
Average Teacher Salary: $40,276
Levy amount: COSSA levy is up to 0.1% of entire school district value, which in 2011, $67,777,000. School plant facilities levy is up to 0.4% of district value). Amount paid by property owners would change each year based on district value. Officials do not anticipate an increase from what people pay currently.
Money use: COSSA levy is for specific programs (special ed and professional technical programs); plant facilities levy can go toward buildings, grounds and busses.
Sample ballot for Notus levies
Horseshoe Bend School District
Spending per Student: $8,628.83
Average Teacher Salary: $43,252
Levy amount: $250,000 for 2 years
Money use: School programming, maintain class size, cover projected deficit for 2012-13
District levy information
