With all 17 precincts reporting, 1,947 voters cast ballots in favor of the Blaine County School District’s request to split its annual $5.98 million plant facilities levy in two, to create flexibility in spending, while 1,186 voters cast ballots against the proposal.
With the levy proposal approved, the district will collect a $2.99 million plant facilities levy and a new $2.99 million supplemental levy to patch its perennial seven-figure general-fund shortfall.
The vote today culminates months of debate and years of discussion, as the BCSD—one of the richest districts in the state—has aimed to boost stagnant revenues to meet the ever-rising costs of staff salaries and benefits.
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(17) comments
An argument could be made that eliminating 50% of the administration jobs and getting a hyper efficient district would in essence be pulling up to a $1 million dollars out of the local economy. And most of this money comes from 2nd home owners who do not even live here, so it seems like a pretty good deal that we have all these high paying jobs with amazingly low taxes for most residents. And having a great school district is the reason many families relocate here, our public schools are definitely better than the local private schools and part of the reason is teacher pay is higher than average, thus attracting better teachers.
62.1% for, 35.7% against. For some reason 2% unaccounted for.
It would be interesting to see the vote if those who do not own property were removed from the totals, though I am in NO way suggesting that their votes do not matter...just curious.
Nothing will ever change, and future levies will see the same approximate divide. It will be back to monkey business as usual until this board and administration are gone.
Well Trustees and GCH, you got your 'bandaid'. When you recover from your hangovers, are you going to address the issues of automatic pay raises and fully-paid (by the taxpayers) retirement payments, that the employees should be making? Overstaffing? And I mean address it THIS year. Or is this wound going to continue to fester, and you'll be back with outstretched hands in two years? If you address it now, maybe there will be some budget carryover for the upcoming REALLY difficult budget years.
I would expect GCH to retire prior to the next round of funding issues. She may finally relent, just a guess. We can rely on the leadership of Bennion and our communications department to show the way through that. Has anyone considered term limits on the board chair? Other school districts rotate that responsibility annually to ensure no single perspective can control the agenda.
IME - this is not money the district is entitled to collect. It is a new tax. If they were entitled to collect it they surely would have without a vote. Stop the fake news.
I consider myself a conservative democrat and voted against this levy. This time around I chose to sit back and watch it play out. I am so happy to see that with all of the school districts pawns who spent thousands of dollars on this campaign there was only an 800 margin. However, I will let all know here and now that when this 5.9 levy expires in two years and I see the district still bloated, I hope every one of you will join me to put your money where your pen strikes and give to the cause to take away this levy. I am not against the stabilization levy but the supplemental levies are too much and the district spends it in such a disastrous way, like a communications department that should not be getting so much of our money to put the public down and squelch our voices. Beware that they have a lot of money backing as we saw when they paid for the communications position for two years even though the public was so against it. And Mr. Blackstone it is not just the liberals who are uneducated in the ways of this district so I expect you out and about in full force campaigning against the levy. Also note that many who voted do not even pay property taxes, including two trustees, so they have no personal monetary loss. I am saddened by the posting of the Hailey Mom as threats to teachers and students will be watched closely and called out. There are policies in place to protect class size and teacher removal so they really are idle threats. If anything our district is losing students as there are no viable jobs here and family size is going down. The reason we no longer needed the facilities expenditures is that there was no longer a need to build another elementary school. I am proud that for the dollar to dollar expenditures and very little campaigning against the levy it only won by a small number. Those against the levy will need to make a stronger effort and make sure the taxpayers get educated and vote. Talk to all in two years!
New and fresh voices for reform needed on the board.
There are serious changes in educational funding coming, and future levy demands will continue on an upward trajectory without cuts to administration and retirement obligations.
Which trustees do not pay property taxes?
"It's about the kids" they said.
"Value good education" they said.
"If you don't pass this, the kids will be punished" they said.
"We need money for new schools" they said (many years ago)
"Ooops. We don't need money for new schools. But we still want the money!!" they said.
How could over 1,000 people fall for this nonsense???
Between this and the unfettered fancification of Ketchum, I think I'm outta here.
NOT MY LEVY!
I believe the administration of BCSD is over staffed and overpaid. However, I voted for this because the bloated overpaid administration made it clear that if not approved, they would take it out on the kids and teachers, and not by cutting admin expense. That said, the board should be on notice that if they do not hear public’s demand for a reduc in admin, they will lose their cushy jobs next time vote comes around for their positions.
The board should be on notice????
You've just admitted that the BCSD extorted you to vote yes.
They threatened your kids and you still gave them money.
Wake up Haileymom!!
i doubt that...the current admin will be already paid thanks to this and the new admin will cry the same bs about how we won't get a great great new super....you people are suckers
Thanks to all who took the time to illuminate the dark side of this measure.
I sincerely hope the trustees will take into account the many voices who voted emphatically "NO". Will over 1,000 people in our community be heard now? Perhaps a great starting point will be to hire a third party negotiator for the taxpayers when any contract negotiations begin? Someone who actually has experience negotiating with unions.... You have a band aid now for two years - make it count...
this will not be forgotten in 2 years...poor move people.poor move
Did anyone who wasted their time and went to the trouble to go vote NO really think this outright THEFT of your hard earned money wouldn't happen... AGAIN? Blaine County LIBERAL Idiots!
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