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Bonds/Levies
May 21, 2024 Supplemental Levy Election Information
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
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▶️ What is on the ballot?
The Board of Trustees of Joint School District No. 3, Ada and Canyon Counties, State of Idaho, is seeking authorization to levy a Supplemental Levy for the following purposes and approximate amount of levy funds to be allocated to each use:
Purpose Amount
Staffing and Operations Maintenance $2,500,000
Facility Maintenance $2,800,000
TOTAL ANNUAL LEVY AMOUNT: $5,300,000/year
QUESTION: Shall the Board of Trustees of Joint School District No. 3, Ada and Canyon Counties, State of Idaho, be authorized and empowered to levy a Supplemental Levy in the amount of Five Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($5,300,000) per year for two (2) years, commencing with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2026, for the purposes stated above; all as provided in the Resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees on March 12, 2024?
The estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer on the proposed levy is a tax of $103.90 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions.
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▶️ What would the "Staffing and Operations Maintenance" portion provide?
If approved, the $2,500,000 would:
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Maintain 15 additional teachers:
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1 agriculture
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4 kindergarten
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10 teachers
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Maintain existing curriculum/technology
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Maintain safety -
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School resource officers
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Safety Aides
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Behavior Specialist
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Some safety projects
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▶️ What would the "Facility Maintenance" portion provide?
The Facility Maintenance part of the levy would provide:
Roof replacement/repairs:
- Reed
- Hubbard
Fire alarm replacement at:
- Hubbard Elementary
- Kuna High School
- Indian Creek Elementary
- Ross Elementary
Heating/Air Conditioning (HVAC) replacement at:
- Kuna High School
- Indian Creek Elementary
- Ross Elementary
Technology infrastructure:
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Net App, replacing all Windows 10 devices, UCS & Wireless Controllers
Transportation: 3 new buses
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▶️ What would be the impact on property taxes?
The supplemental levy would make up one of three parts of our overall property tax levy for schools.
Below is a chart that shows
*The tax increase of $103.90 per $100,000 for the supplemental levy would be reduced by:
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a decrease in taxes collected to pay off bonds
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state property tax relief funds allocated by the 2024 Legislature are estimated to be same
Estimated Kuna School District Property Taxes Per $100,000
Taxable Assessed Value per year, based on current conditions
Current 2023-24
Projected 2024-25
Change
from 2023-24
Tort levy
$3.87
$3.87
No change
Bond levy
$161.74
$91.38
$70.36 Decrease
Supplemental levy
$0
$103.90
$103.90 Increase
State Property Tax Relief Funding (House Bill 292)
-$42.00
*-$42.00
Funded by state & Assuming no change
Estimated total taxes per $100,000 based on current conditions
$123.61
$157.20
$33.50 Increase
The estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer on the proposed levy is a tax of $103.90 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions.
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▶️ What are my voting options (mail, early in-person, election day)?
Here are some key dates and information about voting:
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April 26 - Deadline to pre-register for May 21 election. Register to vote here.
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May 10 - 5 p.m. Deadline to request a mail-in or absentee ballot. Request your ballot here.
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May 6 - 17 - Early in-person voting weekdays
- May 21 - Election Day: Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Check your polling place here.
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▶️ I'm not registered as a Democrat or Republican, can I still vote on May 21 school election? ?
Yes!
Political party affliation is not required to vote in school elections.
On the May 21 ballot
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On May 21, 2024, Kuna School District voters will consider a two-year supplemental levy. Below is information from the resolution approved by the Kuna Board of Trustees. Read the full resolution here.
The Board of Trustees of Joint School District No. 3, Ada and Canyon Counties, State of Idaho, is seeking authorization to levy a Supplemental Levy for the following purposes and approximate amount of levy funds to be allocated to each use:
Purpose Amount
Staffing and Operations Maintenance $2,500,000
Facility Maintenance $2,800,000
TOTAL ANNUAL LEVY AMOUNT: $5,300,000/year
QUESTION: Shall the Board of Trustees of Joint School District No. 3, Ada and Canyon Counties, State of Idaho, be authorized and empowered to levy a Supplemental Levy in the amount of Five Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($5,300,000) per year for two (2) years, commencing with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2026, for the purposes stated above; all as provided in the Resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees on March 12, 2024?
The estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer on the proposed levy is a tax of $103.90 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year based on current conditions.
Please join us to learn more about the May 21 Supplemental Levy at our town hall meetings:
- In Person Thursday, May 9 - 6 p.m. at the Kuna School District Office, 711 E. Porter St.
- Online Thursday, May 16 - 6 p.m. streaming online Kuna School District YouTube
Virtual Town Hall Meeting
May 16, 2024 at 6pm
Media Stories About the Levy
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KTVB Channel 7 Story
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KIVI Channel 6 Story
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Idaho Press Story
On the ballot: Kuna School District seeks $5.3 million levy
HAADIYA TARIQ htariq@idahopress.com
Coming May 21, Kuna voters will take to the polls, deciding on a supplemental levy for the Kuna School District.
The KSD has proposed a levy that would provide the district with $5.3 million annually for two years. Of that, $2.5 million would go toward maintaining staffing and operations while $2.8 million would go toward maintaining buildings.
For taxpayers, this levy equates to $103.90 per $100,000 in taxable property for the next two years.
However, with all bonds considered, taxpayers would see a net $33.50 per $100,000 increase for two years.
This is because a 2017 school bond is estimated to cost taxpayers less next year, a reduction of approximately $70 per $100,000.
Rather than adding something new, much of the funds would go toward paying pre-existing employees and fixing up aging facilities.
Staffing and operations maintenance funds would cover the following:
Maintain 15 teachers:
1 agriculture
4 kindergarten
10 general education teachers
Maintain existing curriculum/technology
Maintain safety:
School resource officers
Safety aides
Behavior specialist
Safety projects
Facilities maintenance would fund the following buildings and projects:
Roof replacement:
Reed Elementary School
Hubbard Elementary School
Fire alarm replacement:
Hubbard Elementary School
Ross Elementary School
Indian Creek Elementary School
Kuna High School
Heating/air conditioning replacement:
Ross Elementary School
Indian Creek Elementary School
Kuna High School
Technology infrastructure and replacements:
Three school buses
In previous reports by the Idaho Press, Kuna school administrators detailed difficulties related to aging infrastructure. This included reports of broken heating, cooling and outdated fire systems.
Justine Burgess, principal of Hubbard Elementary, described a 2023 incident where a broken HVAC unit in a central hallway began billowing smoke.
While staff could smell something burning, the fire alarms didn’t initially go off until the smoke worsened.
“It’s tough, because you want community support,” Burgess said about a previous bond that failed to pass.
The $111.4 million bond, on the ballot of the March 2023 elections, required 66.7% of votes in support. The results fell short at 59.2% approval.
The 2024 supplemental levy will need a simple majority to pass. As this year’s primaries approach, voters can learn more about the supplemental levy before coming to a decision.
An in-person town hall will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Kuna School District Office, 711 E. Porter St.
A virtual town hall will be taking place May 16 at 6 p.m.
The video stream and more bond information can be found at kunaschools.org/LEVY.
Haadiya Tariq is a reporter for the Idaho Press. She focuses on Nampa, Caldwell and Canyon County. You can follow her on Twitter @HaadiyaTariq or email her at htariq@idahopress.com.