They Know How Much, Now What Will They Do With It?

Idaho school districts will receive $51 million to help offset the reduced appropriation from the last legislative session. Many school districts and all of our charter schools have found ways to deal with that shortfall WITHOUT the aid of the federal government. Provided below are the estimated federal funds for a few of the local school districts:

Nampa………………..$2.54 million
Caldwell………………$1.1 million
Vallivue……………….$1.16 million
Boise……………………$4.58 million
Meridian………………$5.96 million

Now that the districts know the specifics, what will they do? State Superintendent Luna suggests that they spend that money carefully, Governor Otter suggests that they “sock some of it away for the future.” Not only should the districts be careful and perhaps save some of it, those districts that received approval from the electorate for a healthy supplemental tax increase should reduce that levy in proportion to the federal funds received. The property taxpayers need relief too and this windfall from the feds make that relief possible.

The Homedale school district recently set a good example for others to follow when they cancelled a proposed supplemental levy election when they were informed that they were to receive some federal dollars. That decision is a good example for others to follow.