BOISE – It was a big day across southern Idaho as voters hit the polls to decide the fate of numerous school levies and board elections.
School levies were on the May 17th ballot in Meridian, Kuna, Parma, Payette, Melba, Emmett and Wilder.
People who live in the Meridian School District were asked to increase the district's local operating revenue from $14.5 million to $18.5 million. The $4 million levy would be for two years. If approved, a home with taxable value of $100,000 would see an $83 per year increase in taxes.
The unofficial ballot count shows the levy failed with 43% of voters saying yes and 57% saying no. The Ada County website shows 16,384 went to the polls to vote on the levy.
Supplemental levies in Payette and Fruitland failed Tuesday night. Unofficial results from Payette County show the levy in Payette received 354 yes votes and 391 no votes. 489 voters said yes to the levy in Fruitland and 556 said no.
The Kuna School District was asking for $1.5 million, which translates to $156 per year increase on $100,000 of taxable value. Unofficial results from Ada County show that levy also failed with 40% of voters saying yes and 60% saying no.
There are a few school districts that will be getting more money. Unofficial ballot counts on the Canyon County website show levies passing in Melba, Parma and Wilder.
Citizens were asked to elect school board members in Caldwell, Melba, Vallivue, Emmett, Homedale and Bruneau-Grandview.
In Mountain Home, voters cast their ballots for two school board trustees and a 5-year, $925,000 plant facility levy.
The polls were open Tuesday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Stay tuned to Newschannel 7 for election results.
Also online Canyon County elections.
The Greater Boise Auditorium District board also held an election. Six candidates were vying for two seats. The district includes Boise and Garden City. It is roughly the area east of Eagle Road.
McCall voters were asked to decide the fate of a local option tax which could provide funds for parks, city streets, public transit, golf course maintenance and animals shelters.
Check out a sample ballot for the McCall election.
Here are some supplemental levy quick facts:
- Supplemental levies tax assessed property value of properties located within the school district.
- Supplemental levies fund for either one or two years and are for operational expenses. Bond levies, on the other hand, exist for longer periods of time and cover capital assets such as new schools, land acquisition and equipment upgrades.
- For a supplemental levy to pass, voters must approve it with a simple majority (50% + 1).
