Kellogg, Wallace schools seeking levy support

The Kellogg and Wallace school districts are looking to pass supplemental levies in the upcoming election.

Each of the levies will replace an expiring levy which property owners are already paying for through property taxes. There are a few changes in the Kellogg School District's replacement levy that may make taxpayers there happy.

Kellogg's levy is $5,916,800 — or $2,958,400 per year for two years beginning July 1, 2024, which is the start of the fiscal year for Idaho school districts.

Under the current levy, taxpayers in the district have been paying $361.79 per $100,000 of taxable assessed property value. Should the proposed replacement levy be approved by voters, taxpayers are expected to see the cost drop to $215.37 per $100,000 of taxable assessed property value. That is a reduction of $146.42.

According to the district’s administration, the estimated reduction in the cost of the levy is due to increased home values as well as $9 million worth of new construction that has taken place within the boundaries of the taxing district.

The funds from this levy make up roughly 25% of the Kellogg district’s annual budget.

In the Wallace School District, the replacement levy amount totals $3.4 million over two years. The estimated cost to taxpayers is $268.74 per $100,000 of taxable assessed property value, which is identical to the cost of the expiring levy.

Much like their neighbors, the WSD levy is responsible for roughly 33% of the district’s annual budget.

Public schools in Idaho receive the bulk of their funding from the state, based on average daily attendance, but funds from the state don’t come close to covering everything.

That’s where the levies come into play.

These levies fund line items like utilities, extracurriculars, including sports, classroom supplies, technology, curriculum, full-day kindergarten, classroom support, transportation, school nurses, custodial staff, ancillary (Spanish and ROTC) and facilities.

Both levies will be on the Nov. 7 ballot and require a simple majority vote, one vote more than 50%, in order to pass.