Harrison School Bond Falls Short Proposal To Build New School Gets 59.9 Percent Approval

Harrison area voters shot down a plan Tuesday to spend nearly $32,000 per student to build the Kootenai School District’s first new high school in 40 years.

A majority of voters - 59.9 percent - approved a $3.5 million school bond Tuesday, but state law requires bonds be passed by two-thirds of voters.

Of 581 people who cast ballots Tuesday, 348 voted for the bond and 233 voted against it.

The vote marks the second time in two years that the bond has failed, despite being supported by most voters.

“I’m surprised and very disappointed,” said Superintendent Ron Hill. “We’ve been at this for two years, had two facility committees unanimously say we need a new school, most voters agree with them but 40 percent get to make the decision. It just doesn’t make sense.”

The bond election was the first since a district court judge tossed out a lawsuit last month by 17 small school districts who have complained that the state should pay some portion of constructing school facilities.

The results of this election were expected to be watched closely by residents of other North Idaho school districts, who have waged dozens of battles over bond elections in recent years.

The new building would have added seven new classrooms, a new gymnasium and a library to the tiny school district, which boasts only 320 students. It also would have given the district’s 110 high school students their own school.

Currently, junior high and high school students share the same building. Space is so tight, Hill said, that some students attend classes in the library.

Les Thomas, chairman of the Kootenai School District board, blamed Tuesday’s outcome on a “tax revolt.” The bond would have raised property taxes by $49 for every $50,000 in assessed value for the next 12 years.

“We don’t have negative comments about the district and nobody disputes the fact that we have the need for a new building,” Thomas said.

“But it’s the only situation where they (voters) actually have to vote themselves a tax increase. Voters want to show their frustration with taxation and unfortunately schools take the hit.”

, DataTimes