We’ve been following the budget crisis in the Nampa School District since last summer. That was when the state’s third largest district revealed accounting errors had created a deficit of $4.3 million. That is also the levy amount the district is asking Nampa voters to approve Tuesday.
Since its crisis began the Nampa School District has eliminated most of the substitute teaching budget, furloughed employees, decided to sell off land. But that’s not enough. That’s why fourth grade teacher Carmi Scheller is counting on the levy.
“This financial issue all year has just been like a weight pressing down on people,” Sheller says. “And it’s going to let people know that there is hope in sight there is recovery in sight. It’s not an end all be all but it’s a huge piece.”
Scheller, who is also vice president of the Nampa Education Association, says she doesn’t want to think about what would happen if the levy doesn’t pass, the necessary cuts would be too painful. But she’s confident it will. She says community support has been overwhelming. Last year at this time active opposition helped scuttle a levy in Nampa. But this time around no opposition group has come forward. That doesn’t mean everyone in Nampa is on board with it.
“People are just upset because of what’s happened. And it’s hard to let go of that,” says Bryon Knight with the Yes for Nampa Schools campaign. Knight says some people in Nampa are angry that the district got itself into this budget hole and might be reluctant to come to the rescue.
“But I think people are understanding that there isn’t going to be an impact on taxes, which is really the largest concern with most anybody you talk too,” he says.
Normally with a supplemental levy voters agree to pay higher taxes. Not this time. If it passes, the district will refinance some bonds lowering the amount it has to pay for those. The levy gives it permission to use those savings to fill the deficit. The total tax amount stays the same.
Think of it as refinancing your mortgage while taking out a loan to fix a leaky roof. Your house payment is smaller, but with the new loan for the roof you end up paying the same amount each month.