The Courier News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding NEWS

March 22, 2023 Vol 47 Num 12

Local School Funding Ballots Pass

Across Idaho, more than 70% of school funding ballots failed, with 5 out of 7 bond requests falling short of the 2/3 majority needed to pass. Supplemental levies did better because a simple majority (50% + 1) was easier to obtain. This is fortunate because 80% of Idaho schools rely on supplemental levies for ongoing expenses.

In Camas County, voters approved two levies totalling $300,000 with nearly 80% in favor (152 yes votes - 39 no votes). In Gooding County, the Joint District 231 levy for $759,000 passed with 59% approval (188 yes - 131 no). Both of these levies were for two years. While these levies will cover ongoing expenses, the Camas School District is in need of more space for students. Next Tuesday evening, March 28th at 6:00 p.m., the Board of Trustees will hold the first of two public meetings at the Camas Senior Center in order for the community to ask questions and get detailed information about two proposals.

Proposal 1: To build an Ag Annex Building on campus that would offer 4 new classrooms and two large shop facilities for Career Technical education.

Proposal 2: To build a new school at a new site that would provide new facilities for all programs K-12. An "alternative funding source" for this building project will be explained at the community meetings.

A Parent Engagement survey addressing this issue is also available on the school website: camascountyschools.org. The survey takes only a few minutes and your responses are anonymous. However, your answers are critical in helping the school district move forward. The big question is how to pay for this expansion. Given the propensity for voters to reject bonds, projects like this face an uphill battle, especially in small communities. No one wants a higher property tax bill. The answer might be on Governor Little desk.

Last week, House Bill 292 was approved by the House and sent to the Senate. On Monday, the Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill 32 to 3. If signed by the Governor, House Bill 292 will provide property tax relief via tax credits for homeowners. The bill also facilitates a facility fund for school districts that will make $100 million in state money available to pay for school facilities. The goal is to reduce the burden of property tax on communities.

The bill has the support of the Idaho Association of Counties, the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho, and the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry.

The downside for school districts is that the bill (as sent to the Governor) ends their ability to run bond and levy elections in March. Waiting until the May election date creates a time crunch for preparing budgets. It also makes it hard to make timely salary offers to retain staff for the following school year.

The House preference was to remove both the March and August election dates to save counties money in running elections. Removing only the March date was a compromise between the two chambers. The March election is very often a low-turnout election used almost exclusively by school districts, costing anywhere from $6,000 to $85,000, depending on the county.

Senator Chris Trakel from Caldwell said, “A small fraction of people come out for these elections, and decide on a massive amount of property taxes.” Other senators said it's not perfect long-term fix but it should provide noticeable immediate tax relief.

Governor Little Signs Broadband Investment Law

Governor Brad Little signed Senate Bill 1129 into law Monday, adding another $125 million to improve broadband infrastructure throughout the state as part of his "Idaho First" plan. Another $100 million is nearing legislative approval as part of the Idaho Department of Commerce appropriation budget, for a total of $225 million in new funding for broadband expansion in Idaho.

The Idaho Broadband Advisory Board oversees the distribution of funds to ensure all corners of the state can have fast, reliable broadband. Through investments, the state has been able to connect tens of thousands of underserved households in Idaho, the majority of which are in rural communities of less than 3,000 residents.

The new funds signed into law will help the state tackle the more than $600 million worth of projects waiting for funding. One of those projects might be in Camas County.

Last year, residents of Camas County were asked to take Internet speed test to determine the current Internet speeds and costs within the county. The latest update from the speed tests show the county is entirely underserved, and over 80% of the county is considered unserved because of download speeds of less than 10 Mbps and upload speeds often less than 1Mbps.

With assistance from the Idaho non-profit, Imagine Idaho; a Design Study for Camas County/City of Fairfield has been created by Breaking Point Solutions; this hybrid design with fiber and towers would cover 85% of residents with reliable service and would have minimum speeds of 100 Megabits per second l Mbps) Download and 20 Mbps Upload.

The goal is to fund the design and installation through grants such as "Idaho First" and will not be funded through local property taxes.

The next step is an "INTEREST IN SERVICE SURVEY" to assist with the grant process. Camas County is asking residents of the county to answer a few questions and send them to: camasbroadbandproiect@gmail.com

You find more information at: www.camascounty.id.gov. You can also test your home internet speed on the county website by clicking on the Camas County Broadband Project tab.

Tire Lube

Camas County Fair Board

The Camas County Fair Board will be meeting this Thursday, March 23rd, at 5:00 in the Courthouse Annex.

End Of Season Party

Soldier Mountain Ski Resort will hold their End of Season party this Saturday, March 25th. Come enjoy the fun watching the Cardboard Box Derby and Pond Skim Contest. There will be delicious BBQ & Drinks as well as other fun and games.

Livestock Hall of Fame to Honor New Inductees

The Southern Idaho Livestock Hall of Fame will honor its newest inductees April 11th at the Stone House in Old Town, Twin Falls, during the organization's 62nd annual banquet. The Stone House is located at 330 4th Ave.S.. Twin Falls. (New Location). The banquet will open with social time at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the prime rib dinner are $30 and can be reserved by calling Eric Bennett at (208) 320-5769. This year's inductees include:

1. Former Idaho State Veterinarian Bill Barton, DVM

2. John and Barb Brubaker, Buhl, ID.

3. LaRay and Janet Easterday, Buhl, ID

4. Steve and Abby Whitesides, Rupert

5. Gerald and Celia Marchant, Oakley

Camas Quips Gathered by Tee Hurd

Uncle Ben has died - no more Mr. Rice guy. -- -- --

My friend ask me to round up his 37 Sheep. I said, "40." -- -- --

My girlfriend said, "You act like a detective too much. I want to split up." I replied, "Good idea. That way we can cover more ground." -- -- --

My grandpa warned people the Titanic would sink. No one listened. He kept warning them until he was kicked out of the theater. -- -- --

There are three guys on a boat and they have four cigarettes, but nothing to light them with. They threw one cigarette overboard and the boat became a cigarette lighter. -- -- --

I don't like people who take drugs. For example: airport security. -- -- --

A man is washing his car with his son. The son asked, "Dad, can't you just use a sponge?" -- -- --

A plateau is the highest form of flattery.

Why can't T-Rex clap their hands? Because they are extinct. -- -- --

Competition was tight. It was down to two artist for the art contest. It ended in a draw. Why don't calculus majors throw house parties? Because they don't want their guests to drink and derive. -- -- --

Two skeletons decide to take a vacation in Mexico. On the way there, one of the skeletons gasped. "Oh no, we have to go back! I forgot my tombstone." The other skeleton looked at the other and said, "Why would you need your tombstone in Mexico?" The first said, "How do you plan to cross the boarder without an ID?" -- -- --

Grandpa says, "I got myself a laptop. The salesman ensured me it was built in the U.S. but when I opened the package, I found a note saying 'Built in Webcam'" -- -- --

There are only two instances when people hate the alarm clock: 1-when it rings, and 2-when it doesn't ring.