What’s on the ballot Tuesday, March 12?
Two recall elections, a general obligation construction bond, and a number of plant and supplemental levies are on the ballot in several public school districts Tuesday.
Sugar City Recall Election
A controversial development called “Old Farm Estates” created significant turmoil in Sugar City when it came to the city council in May 2017. The council’s approval led to a lawsuit seeking to overturn the action. A judge determined that two councilmen, directly and indirectly involved in the lawsuit, were biased and couldn’t vote on the final decision.
The disagreement ultimately led to recall petitions against Mayor Dave Ogden and City Councilman Brent Barrus.
Mayor Dave Ogden contends he did not vote on the issue nor did he attempt to influence others. Like Ogden, Barrus said he has done nothing wrong and says his part in the process was backed up by the courts and the Idaho Association of Cities rules of order.
Salmon SD 291 Construction Bond
Patrons of the Lemhi County School District 291 are being asked to approve a $25,600,000 general obligation bond at the polls on Tuesday. The 20-year bond would finance the cost of acquiring and building an integrated elementary and middle school, including facilities for a gym and administrative offices. The school would serve students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grades.
The school district estimates the average annual cost to the taxpayer of about $265 per $100,000 of assessed valuation.
Supplemental Levies:
Pocatello/Chubbuck: SD 25
Patrons of the Pocatello/Chubbuck School district 25 are being asked to approve a two-year supplemental levy of $9,250,000 per year for two years.
Snake River: SD 52
Patrons of the Snake River School District are being asked to approve a supplemental levy of $750,000 per year for two years.
Blackfoot: SD 55
Blackfoot school patrons are being asked to approve a supplemental levy of $2,275,000 per year for two years.
Idaho Falls: SD91
Idaho Falls school patrons are being asked to approve a supplemental levy of $6,800,000 per year for two years.
Butte County: SD 111
Butte and Custer County patrons of District 111 are considering two issues at the polls Tuesday. A supplemental levy seeks $100,000 for one year. (The second is a plant facility levy; see below)
Soda Springs: SD 150
Patrons of the Soda Springs District 150 are seeking voter approval for a supplemental levy of $728,000 for one year. The district serves students in Caribou, Bear Lake, and Bonneville Counties.
Clark County: SD 161
Patrons of the Clark County School district are being asked to approve a supplemental levy of $250,000 per year for two years.
Challis: SD 181
Patrons of the Challis School district 161 in Custer and Lemhi Counties are being asked to approve a supplemental levy of $400,000 per year for two years.
Fremont: SD 215
Patrons of the Fremont School district 215 in Fremont and Madison Counties are being asked to approve a supplemental levy of $1,500,000 each year for two years.
Ririe: SD 252
Patrons of the Ririe School district 252 in Jefferson and Bonneville Counties are being asked to approve a supplemental levy of $290,000 per year for two years.
American Falls: SD 381
Patrons of the American Falls School district 381, with voters in Power and Cassia County, are being asked to approve a supplemental levy of $2,750,000 per year for two years.
Plant Facility Levies:
Aberdeen: SD 58
Aberdeen school patrons are being asked to approve a school plant facilities levy of $275,000 per year for five years.
Butte County: SD 111
Butte and Custer County patrons of District 111 are considering two issues at the polls Tuesday. A plant facility levy seeks up to $100,000 for one year and $103,000 for a second year. (The second is a supplemental levy; see above)
