By the Coeur d’Alene Public Schools Board of Trustees
Last week, Representative Jordan Redman introduced a bill in the House Education Committee (HB 786) which would extend the term of local school levies from two years to four years. We are grateful to Rep. Redman for supporting this important change. Here’s why.
Under current Idaho law, school districts must ask voters to renew a supplemental levy every two years. For communities like ours, that means returning to the ballot box frequently just to maintain the same level of educational services. When a levy lasts only two years, districts are forced into a constant cycle of preparing for renewal and planning for what happens if the levy fails. That churn pulls time and energy away from students and classrooms. A four-year term allows schools and communities to focus more on what matters most: teaching, learning, and student growth rather than repeated elections.
Stability matters, especially when levy dollars support the programs and services families see and rely on every day. Our levy helps pay for staffing, sports and extracurricular programs, music and art education, school safety, nurses and mental health support, technology, classroom resources, and core operating costs. These are not “extras.” They are essential parts of a modern school system and critical to creating welcoming schools where students feel safe, supported, and inspired to learn.
Short levy terms can create “cliff effects,” where schools must prepare for sudden cuts or rushed changes based on election timing rather than student need. Longer terms support more responsible, long-range budgeting, much like the kind most families and businesses already use. Predictability allows districts like ours to plan carefully, avoid abrupt disruptions, and manage public dollars more effectively.
Extending the levy term from two years to four years does not increase taxes or reduce accountability. Voters would still approve any levy at the ballot box, including approving the same levy for a longer period, providing more stability and reducing how often the question appears on the ballot. The change modernizes the timeline so communities can make thoughtful decisions, while schools can plan responsibly and efficiently. As elected Trustees, we are accountable every month in open meetings,
through audits, budget hearings, and transparent reporting. Our community would continue to decide whether a levy is needed and at what level.
A longer levy term also strengthens workforce stability. Our district is people-centered, with more than 80 percent of our operating budget dedicated to staff salaries. Levy dollars support positions that directly serve students every day. A two-year cycle makes it harder to recruit and retain great educators and support staff because it can be difficult to see beyond the next election. Four years creates a more realistic planning window for hiring, training, and sustaining the people who make schools work.
Families don’t make two-year plans for their children. Employers don’t plan their workforce two years at a time. Local governments don’t plan infrastructure on two-year horizons. Schools shouldn’t be forced to, either.
We are deeply grateful for the trust and support our community has for our public schools. The levy has supported our schools for forty years. That partnership makes it possible for us to provide a place for every student and pursue excellence together.
As the legislature considers HB 786 this session, we are hopeful our elected leaders will recognize extending the levy term as a smart change that respects taxpayers, strengthens planning, and helps us continue serving every student well, every day.