A two-year property tax levy sought by the McCall-Donnelly School District would make up for federal funding the district recently lost, according to district officials.
The $950,000 levy would close funding gaps the district is currently facing for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years, M-D Superintendent Tim Thomas said.
If approved, the levy would cost property owners in the district about $9 per $100,000 in assessed property value. Approval requires a simple majority, or 50% of the votes plus one to be in favor of the measure.
If the levy fails, the district could adjust it and put it to voters again in May, Thomas said.
Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 20 and continues through Friday, Oct. 31, at 5 p.m. in the Valley County Courthouse in Cascade.
Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4., at Idaho First Bank in McCall and at the Donnelly Bible Church in Donnelly.
$300K increase over existing levy
An existing two-year levy M-D voters passed in 2023 authorized $650,000 in additional property taxes. That levy will expire after the current school year.
The new levy sought by the district includes $500,000 for transportation, $200,000 for facilities improvements, $150,000 for special programs, and $100,000 for food services.
The $300,000 increase reflects about federal funding the district lost this year, Thomas said.
“This past year the federal contribution to the McCall-Donnelly School District was reduced because the Secure Rural Schools funding was cut,” he said. “We lost approximately $400,000.”
The funding was lost after federal lawmakers failed to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2003, which provides federal funding to rural communities that contain lots of federal land. About 86% of Valley County’s 2.4 million acres are owned by the federal government, according to the University of Idaho Extension.
Program cuts, project delays at stake
If the funding is not replaced, the district could be forced to cut programming and bus routes, as well as delay capital projects at the district’s five school campuses, Thomas said.
Elective classes and extra-curricular opportunities would likely be the hardest hit by budget cuts, though Thomas said those decisions would be at the discretion of the school board.
A five-year facilities plan adopted by the district outlines $7.8 million in projects to be completed by 2030. Projects coming up in 2026 include adding air conditioning to Heartland High School and replacing the scoreboard and stadium lights at the Richard Sabala Athletic Complex.
“The levy funds would be used to continue to meet the plan,” Thomas said.
Special education funding guaranteed
The levy also includes $125,000 for special education services provided by the district. Those services, however, would be funded regardless of whether the levy passes due to state and federal law.
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“The district is still required to cover the costs and will comply with the legal obligations,” Thomas said. “Yet, if the levy fails the effect will be the district could have to cut or scale back other student programs.”
State funding for assumes about 6% of students need special education services, but that rate is two to three times higher for M-D’s 1,400 students.
“Because of that mismatch, there is a funding gap,” Thomas said.
The McCall-Donnelly School District operates Barbara Morgan Elementary School, Donnelly Elementary School, Payette Lakes Middle School, McCall-Donnelly High School, and Heartland High School. The district takes in roughly the northern half of Valley County.
