November 8th Election Information
In addition to the election for state and local offices, the November 8th election will include two questions for D93 residents.
Renew our annual $5.8 million supplemental levy?
Q: Why are voters being asked whether to approve renewing a supplemental levy?
- By state law, school districts must seek voter approval of supplemental levies at least every two years to continue receiving these funds. Voters in Bonneville School District have approved a supplemental levy since 2008.
Q: How does the District spend the dollars from the supplemental levy?
Most of the money from the supplemental levy goes to supplement state funding for employee pay. Specifically, this money goes to:
- Funding specific positions, including our elementary P.E. and music paraprofessionals, co-curricular activity advisors, extracurricular coaches, and substitute teachers,
- Increasing wages for support staff, including custodians and maintenance workers, our classroom paraprofessionals and supervision aides, and our technology and clerical staff,
- Enhancing salaries for certified employees, including teachers, school counselors, principals, and other administrative staff,
- Paying for School Resource Officers, and
- Providing curricular resources and supplies for our classrooms.
Q: How has the District spent the money we received from COVID relief (ESSER) funds?
- Responding to the pandemic. The District first used COVID relief funds to address immediate needs created by the pandemic including purchasing medical and cleaning supplies, providing every student with a Chromebook for remote learning, and paying employees for COVID leave and for performing additional responsibilities in response to the pandemic.
- Replacing lost funding. After addressing these immediate needs, the District has used COVID relief funds to replace revenue lost from not levying the emergency levy (about $2-million per year) and from state budget reductions for classroom technology, transportation, and other important areas.
- Addressing learning loss and student well-being. The District is also using COVID relief funds reserved for learning loss and to support students' social and emotional well-being.
Authorize the use of $1.5M in construction savings for other capital projects?
D93 residents will also be asked whether to approve $1.5 million in savings from the construction of Black Canyon Middle School for other capital improvements in the District.
Q: Why are voters being asked to approve these funds?
The construction of Black Canyon Middle School was completed under budget; however, the District cannot use funds from bonds for any purpose that voters have not approved. We are asking voters to authorize the use of these savings to help fund other critical needs in the District.
Q: What projects will be funded if this is approved?
Last fall, working with a citizens advisory committee, we identified several projects that have become critical needs. These projects include replacing the cafeteria at Ammon Elementary, repairing the roofs at Bonneville High School and Ammon Elementary, and replacing the bus garage. One or more of these projects would be partially funded from these dollars, as well as from proceeds from recent property sales by the District. Some projects will likely also need additional funding from a future bond.
Q: What happens to this money if 2/3 of voters do not vote in favor of this?
These funds can only be used for purposes that were originally identified on the ballot which included building Black Canyon Middle School, replacing the roof at Iona, and constructing a parent drop-off loop at Falls Valley. These projects have all been completed within their estimated budgets. The only other approved use of these dollars is purchasing more property for school sites.