Question and Answer Meeting for the Saint Maries Joint School District 41 Proposed Supplemental Levy

Upriver School hosted a question and answer meeting for the proposed levy that will show up on the November 3 ballot. The meeting centered around dispelling any misinformation or misunderstandings around what the levy is, what it covers, what it doesn't cover, historical context, and even solutions to find alternative means of funding, in future.

Idaho school districts were previously funded through a maintenance tax imposed by the state, and subsequently moved to a supplemental levy tax. Superintendent Teresa Roesch wanted to make clear that this is not a new tax.

The current supplemental levy is the lowest levy rate since 2018-2019, at $1.21 per thousand taxable property value and the proposed rate is an estimated $1.59 per thousand, which comes out to approximately $38.00 more per year per $100,000 assessed taxable property value.

The proposed levy would run from 2027 through 2029 and covers approximately 23% of the District's budget. The levy supports salaries for people (roughly 80% of the proposed levy), who are integral to maintaining current programs, including:

-Extracurricular and co-curricular programs such as athletics, cheerleading, BPA, drama, etc.
-Upriver Elementary School
-Career Technical Vocational Programs, such as welding, wood shop, business, nursing, forestry, and auto repair. These programs are also available to online and homeschooling students.
-Advanced college-ready courses
-Electives such as music, art, and band
-Heyburn Preschool program
-Classroom student support, including bus drivers, librarians, and classroom paraprofessionals.

This proposed supplemental levy will not go towards any building services for the schools, and the last building project was funded by a grant won by the district.

According to information presented at the meeting, the majority of supplemental funding for schools in our area were originally sourced from the state Lottery program, State forestry sales, and Federal forestry sales. However, in recent years there have been serious doubts raised about the distribution and use of these funds as the vast majority of said funds are being sent to southern Idaho metropolitan areas and rural areas have been receiving an ever smaller percentage. Suggestions were made to work with our legislature to address a more equitable distribution of these funds.

A legislative audit of the state lotto programs would also be useful, as well as considering state funds for currently "unfunded mandates" regarding educational programs.

During the question and answer portion of the meeting, concerns were raised with how the increase of fees would economically effect residents of the county, particularly those living paycheck to paycheck and/or on fixed incomes.

Some suggestions included hardship cancellation relief under Idaho Code 63-711, where property taxes may be canceled for reason of undue hardship. The county commissioners may, at their discretion, grant such cancellation for a specified time period.

Applicants must apply to the county commissioners. Each applicant gives a sworn statement containing full and complete information of their financial status. An applicant may submit an application at any time, and the county commissioners may grant it in whole or in part at any regular meeting. The burden of proving the right to cancellation rests on the applicant

Further, a program under the State of Idaho pays a portion of property taxes on a sliding scale based on income. To be eligible, the owner must be, as of January 1st: 65 or older; a widow or widower; blind; a fatherless or motherless child under 18; a former prisoner/hostage of war; a veteran with at least a 10% service-connected disability or receiving a VA pension for non-service-connected disability; or disabled as recognized by Social Security, the Railroad Retirement Board, PERSI, or Federal Civil Service. Applications are filed with the Assessor, generally by April 15.

Please go to our Elections section of our Local Politics page to find out how to register, where to register, and when to register. Local voting is such a vital way to have your voice heard and to positively shape your community.