Blackfoot School District decreasing levy amounts in March 2017 ballot

There will be a decrease in taxes toward schools within Blackfoot School District 55 — if you vote yes.

A supplemental levy is up for renewal, and a new plant facility levy will be on the ballot in March. The $2.6 million supplemental levy, if approved, will be decreased to $2.1 million — and that’s over a two-year period. The plant facility levy will be $600,000 over a 10-year period. A plant facility levy is money that is 100 percent designated to go toward the upkeep of district buildings. Therefore, if these get approved within the district, the proposed levies decrease the current amount by more than $7,000.

“The important thing that I think patrons need to know is that this is truly a decrease in the current supplemental levy that we are now paying for — even though we have a plant facility along with it. The combination of the two are less than what we had prior to,” said assistant superintendent Rich Woodfin.

The election is March 14 to vote yes or no on these proposals.

Here is a quick look at how much this year’s levies will decrease or increase by if approved: