Across Idaho, taxpayers will pay at least $8.1 million in new property taxes, to help school districts deal with growing enrollment. That’s a considerable increase from 2014-15, when districts collected $6.4 million in emergency levies. But the difference can be explained by one district: the rapidly growing West Ada School District, which boosted its emergency levy by more than $2 million. Trustees can unilaterally approve an emergency levy at the start of a school year —as long as their district’s enrollment meets growth thresholds in state law. Unlike supplemental and plant facilities levies, emergency levies do not require voter approval/Kevin Richert, Idaho Education News. More here.

Question: It's rare that there's an outcry when a school board, like Coeur d'Alene's, passes an emergency levy, to take care of an unexpected influx of new children. Why do you think that is?