Bonneville Joint School District #93 Voters in Idaho to Decide on $9.6 Million Supplemental Levy on May 19th
Canyon County and Treasure Valley Schools Watch as Idaho District Faces Critical Funding Vote
Voters in Bonneville Joint School District #93 in Idaho will head to the polls on May 19th to decide whether to approve a supplemental levy of $9.6 million per year for two years — a measure that district officials say is essential to maintaining staffing levels, classroom resources, extracurricular programs, and school safety. The vote comes as school districts across Idaho, including those in Canyon County’s Nampa and Caldwell communities, grapple with the gap between state funding and the true cost of operating quality public schools.
Background: Replacing a Levy That Has Not Changed Since 2017
The proposed levy would replace the district’s current $5.8 million levy, which has not been increased since 2017. If approved, the new measure would represent an estimated tax increase of $47.20 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value — roughly $4 more per month for a homeowner with a property assessed at $100,000.
Carissa Coats, the Chair of the Bonneville Joint School District #93 Board of Trustees and the mother of four students enrolled in the district, has publicly outlined where the levy funds would be directed and why the increase is being sought now.
“This is not about adding extras,” Coats wrote in a statement to the community. “It is about sustaining the quality of education our community expects and our students deserve.”
Her remarks come as Idaho school districts continue to navigate a funding landscape in which state allocations do not fully cover operational costs — a challenge familiar to districts throughout the Treasure Valley, including those serving Canyon County families in Nampa, Caldwell, and Middleton.
How the Levy Funds Would Be Allocated
According to district officials, the largest single portion of the proposed levy — $2.5 million — would fund classified support staff, including paraprofessionals, bus drivers, nutrition workers, aides, and office personnel. These roles are foundational to daily school operations.
Additional allocations include:
$1.2 million for full-day kindergarten instruction for all students, described by Coats as a critical investment in early education and long-term student success.
$950,000 for coaches and extracurricular advisors, with another $300,000 for activity transportation, preserving programs that officials say build student engagement and life skills.
$900,000 each for classroom resources and supplies, and for physical education and music programs.
$400,000 for the district’s Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program, which Coats highlighted as particularly meaningful — noting that one of her own children currently participates in the program.
$500,000 for student well-being programs and $400,000 for School Resource Officers, reflecting a continued emphasis on school safety and mental health support.
Smaller allocations include $150,000 for Career Technical Education (CTE) expansion, $210,000 for administrative support, and $200,000 for facility maintenance including grounds upkeep.
Impact on Idaho School Communities
The outcome of the May 19th vote will directly shape the resources available to students and teachers in Bonneville Joint School District #93 for the next two years. District officials have been clear that a failed levy would force difficult decisions, potentially affecting staffing levels and program availability across the district.
The levy debate also reflects a broader conversation playing out in communities across Idaho — including Canyon County — about the role of local voters in supplementing state education funding. As lawmakers in Boise have worked through the legislative session, education funding has remained a central concern for Idaho families. For context on related state-level education and budget decisions, see coverage at Idaho News, including recent reporting on Gov. Brad Little’s veto of legislation that cut graduate medical education funding.
Supporters of the levy argue that strong public schools strengthen property values, attract businesses and families, and prepare the next generation of Idaho’s workforce. Opponents or skeptical taxpayers may weigh the additional tax burden against household budgets already stretched by inflation and rising property assessments throughout the Treasure Valley.
What Comes Next
Registered voters within the Bonneville Joint School District #93 boundaries are eligible to cast ballots on May 19th. The district encourages community members to review the full levy breakdown and contact district offices with questions ahead of the election.
Results of the vote will determine whether the district can maintain its current scope of programs and staffing heading into the next school year — or whether administrators will need to begin identifying cuts. Canyon County News will continue to follow school funding developments across Idaho as local districts approach their own budget decisions this spring.