Twin Falls School District is once again asking local taxpayers to renew its supplemental levy, this time keeping the amount flat at $7.2 million — identical to what voters approved two years ago. The renewal will appear on the November ballot, and district leaders say the funds are essential to maintaining services that state education dollars alone do not cover.
Under Idaho law, supplemental levies expire every two years unless voters choose to renew them. The Twin Falls School District first brought a supplemental levy to voters back in 2012, and the measure has passed every time it has appeared on the ballot since then.
What the Money Pays For
The levy covers several programs that many families may take for granted but would face cuts if the funding disappeared. Among the most significant: armed security officers stationed at every school in the district. The levy also funds paraprofessionals who work alongside classroom teachers to support students, as well as transportation for extracurricular activities.
One benefit that often goes unnoticed is the district’s ability to keep student fees at zero for athletics, performing arts, and school communications. Because the supplemental levy helps cover those costs, families are not billed out-of-pocket for their children to participate — a meaningful distinction for working families across Magic Valley.
Oregon Trail Elementary Principal Tana Schroeder put it plainly in comments reported by KIVI-TV: “We could not do this without all of our support staff… without our paraprofessionals, without our custodians, without our security, without our school mentors, it really would be so, so challenging.”
District Leadership Emphasizes Fiscal Restraint
Superintendent Brady Dickinson says the district does not arrive at the levy amount casually. He told KIVI-TV that administrators carefully examine which items genuinely require supplemental funding before settling on a number to bring before voters. “We try to be really cautious in terms of how much we ask our community for, and so we really dig in and look at what exactly we need for the supplemental items,” Dickinson said.
The decision to hold the levy flat rather than request an increase reflects that approach. With inflation affecting school budgets across Idaho just as it has affected household budgets, keeping the ask at the same level as the prior cycle signals a degree of discipline that taxpayers tend to appreciate.
State funding formulas for public education have long been a source of frustration for districts like Twin Falls, which must patch gaps with local levy dollars to maintain staffing levels and program offerings that communities expect. Supplemental levies are one of the primary tools Idaho districts have available to make up those shortfalls without eliminating programs outright.
Track Record at the Ballot Box
The levy’s unbroken streak of voter approval since 2012 suggests broad community support, though each renewal cycle still requires an active campaign to inform residents — particularly newer families who may not be familiar with how the district is funded. With November approaching, the district will need to make its case to property owners who carry the cost of the levy through their tax bills.
The November vote will determine whether programs like school security staffing and zero-fee extracurricular participation continue uninterrupted or face potential cutbacks. Given the renewed emphasis on school safety across Idaho, the armed security component in particular is likely to resonate with voters who prioritize a secure learning environment for students and staff.
For statewide education funding and Idaho policy news, visit Idaho News.
What Comes Next
The levy renewal will be decided by Twin Falls County voters in the November election. If approved, the $7.2 million authorization would remain in effect for another two-year cycle before requiring another renewal vote. District officials have not indicated any plans to adjust the levy amount ahead of the ballot. Residents seeking more information on the measure are encouraged to contact the Twin Falls School District directly or watch for public information meetings as the election draws closer.