Turnout Was the Deciding Factor for Many Bonds and Levies

The big picture: On Nov. 4, Idaho voters headed to the polls to cast votes for local issues such as city council and school board offices. Bonds and levies were on the ballot, too — many repeats after failed votes in May. According to one media report, $159 million in bonds and levies were considered by Idaho voters on Tuesday.  

Why so many?: Bonds and levies are a staple of Idaho ballots because of Idaho’s chronic underfunding of education. When the Idaho Legislature fails to meet its fiscal and constitutional duty to Idaho public schools, local communities are forced to make up the difference — to the tune of hundreds of millions every year. 

Deciding factor: Only a handful of voters made the difference in several bonds and levies, as Idaho Ed News first reported.  

• Mountain Home’s supplemental levy passed by 20 votes 
• Orofino’s supplemental levy passed by 14 votes 
• Minidoka County’s supplemental levy failed by 21 votes 
• Valley’s supplemental levy failed by 4 votes 

IEA members succeed in electing new board member: West Ada Education Association members turned out in force to elect educator Meghan Brown, who ran in response to the “Everyone Is Welcome Here” poster controversy and Idaho’s new private school voucher program. Brown beat the incumbent, Angie Redford, with 61.2% of the vote.

• Boise Education Association members organized to phone bank before the election, as well (as pictured above). 

The winners: Murtaugh and Teton passed levies. Basin, Blaine, Clearwater Valley, Garden Valley, Genesee, Kendrick, Kimberly, McCall/Donnelly, Mountain Home, Nampa, North Gem, Orofino, Salmon, Shelley, Sugar-Salem, Three Creek, Troy, Wallace and Weiser passed supplemental levies.  

Repeat efforts fail: Filer put both supplemental and plant levies on the ballot after May’s failed bond initiative; the levies failed. Marsh Valley also attempted to secure more funding after a failed vote in May, but November’s efforts also weren’t successful. Levies also failed in Grangeville, Kellogg, Middleton and Minidoka County.

Not a single bond passes: Idaho requires a crippling 66.7% supermajority to pass a bond — and no district was successful in crossing that threshold. Gooding, Fremont County and Camas County had bonds on the ballot on Tuesday.  

Takeaways: “Less than 30% of Idahoans voted on Tuesday — a turnout that falls short of what our public education system deserves,” said Chris Parri, IEA’s political director. “While some results offered hope and progress, others were setbacks. Elections have real consequences for our schools, educators, and students. If we want stronger outcomes, IEA members must lead by example, drive voter engagement in their communities, and make civic participation a priority. A 30% turnout simply isn’t enough to build a lasting defense of Idaho’s public schools.”