Two-Thirds Vote Barrier Must Go
Well, what do you know?
Idaho legislators finally admitted the state’s schools have a building problem - about $740 million worth statewide - and they might be partly responsible for it. That might not seem like much of a concession. But, in a state where even the Democrats are conservative, it’s tantamount to divine inspiration.
Idaho, after all, is one of 10 states that puts no state money into school construction, leaving the entire cost to local taxpayers. It’s one of four states that require a two-thirds supermajority vote to pass a school construction bond. And it’s the only state with both restrictions.
At this late date in the session, legislators won’t find a bundle of money to pour into a school construction fund, even if they were inclined to do so. But there are two important steps they can take: support a proposed state constitutional amendment that would lower the school bond supermajority and approve an interim committee to study construction needs.
For years, the supermajority requirement has thwarted the public will and forced children to be schooled in inadequate buildings, from Post Falls to Dubois. In 1996 and 1997, Post Falls School District bond elections for a new high school failed, despite receiving nearly 63 percent support from district patrons. Sixty-three percent! That’s a landslide in most elections.
In March, the district will try again to pass the needed high school bond. Its job would be easier if a proposal now before the House State Affairs Committee was law. The proposed constitutional amendment would reduce the supermajority requirement to 60 percent, if a bond vote is taken during a primary or general election. Elections on other dates still would require two-thirds approval.
The bill needs a two-thirds vote from both legislative houses to be placed on the November ballot.
State Sen. Jack Riggs, R-Coeur d’Alene, explained his reason for supporting the lower supermajority: “If you have an election on a day with presumably higher turnout, there’s more accountability reflecting what people want.”
Riggs also supports formation of a committee to develop a plan to address school building needs in the next legislative session. The idea was proposed almost a month ago by Lakeland School District Superintendent Bob Jones in a joint address to the House and Senate education committee.
“It gives you the time to really study an issue and bring in the experts,” Riggs said. “I do think that has merit, rather than trying to do it during the short legislative session.”
Riggs is right. An interim study committee makes sense, as does a ballot measure for a lower supermajority. But that doesn’t mean either proposal will survive this year. House Speaker Mike Simpson has expressed doubt either bill would pass the House.
The next few weeks will show us how willing the Legislature is to back up its talk with concrete steps to fix a deplorable situation. North Idahoans should watch carefully how their representatives vote on these issues - if they get a chance to do so. Idaho schools have been stuck with the status quo far too long.
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