Idaho Republicans are trying to prevent school districts, cities and other entities from asking residents to vote on multiple, similar bond issues each year.
The bill from Rep. Heather Scott (R-Blanchard) and Sen. Lori Den Hartog (R-Meridian) would only let taxing districts run the same bond issue once a year.
Bond levies are typically used to pay for things like building a new school or other infrastructure projects. They need two-thirds of voters to approve them.
Scott unsuccessfully ran a similar bill two years ago that also would’ve barred school districts from holding supplemental levy elections more than once a year. But she said she took that piece out to win broader appeal.
“I was trying not to be too aggressive,” Scott said.
Since it takes a supermajority of voters to sign off on bond issues in Idaho, it sometimes takes multiple elections before they’re approved.
Voters in Filer School District, for example, rejected two proposals last year to build a new career/tech facility and update existing classrooms, despite the first election in March earning more than 63% approval.
Last year, the Idaho House barely passed a similar bill, but it was blocked in the Senate.
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