Jerome County farmer and levy skeptic Dean Dimond asked Secretary of State Phil McGrane to pull the Valley School District’s plant‑facilities levy from the November ballot, claiming the language was “false and misleading.” McGrane replied that the ballot wording meets Idaho Code 34‑2001A and that changes cannot be made this close to the election.
Legal review finds no error in ballot wording
Valley School District Superintendent Ty Jones said the district consulted legal counsel when drafting the ballot language to ensure compliance. A side‑by‑side comparison of the statutory guidelines and the ballot text shows a near‑exact match.
The ballot states that, if approved, the levy would collect $74.81 per $100,000 of taxable value – a rate based on “current conditions.” The $1.5 million, five‑year levy would raise $300,000 per year, the same amount the district received from the prior five‑year levy approved in 2022.
Jones emphasized, “We did not ask for an increase.” The existing levy, which expires in June 2027, currently costs $101.42 per $100,000 of taxable value. That higher rate reflects outdated property assessments. Updated assessments have lowered the rate to $74.81, meaning taxpayers would pay less even though the district’s annual revenue stays constant.
Why the tax rate drops
As property values are reassessed, tax rates adjust upward or downward. In Valley’s small, rural district of roughly 500 students, there have been no large new subdivisions to push rates higher. Jones explained, “As property values got reassessed, it positively impacted the rates going down.”
The law requires ballot language to disclose whether a levy will increase, decrease, or keep the tax rate the same. The wording reads: “If the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 of taxable assessed value is expected to decrease the tax by $26.61 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value.” In plain terms, the levy would keep the district’s funding level while lowering the tax burden on homeowners.
Recent levy history
The district’s last plant‑facilities levy passed in March 2022 with a 97‑42 vote, about 70 % support. That same year voters also approved a $600,000, two‑year supplemental levy. By contrast, two supplemental levy attempts in 2025 were rejected by narrow margins – 153‑160 in May and 276‑280 in November, falling just short of the 55 % threshold required for passage.
Dimond’s opposition to the current levy has drawn scrutiny. He previously distributed mailers and signs without identifying their sponsor and reported spending $5,000 to oppose the levy, though he later told EdNews he had spent only $160. When asked for comment on Dimond’s email to McGrane, Superintendent Jones said, “I have no comment on Dean Dimond.”
What voters need to know
The $1.5 million, five‑year plant‑facilities levy will appear on the November 3 ballot. It requires 55 % approval to pass. If approved, the district will continue to fund building maintenance, remodel projects, repairs, furnishings, and school‑bus purchases, all while offering a lower tax rate to property owners.
Secretary McGrane’s response clarified that the Secretary of State’s office and the county clerk lack authority to alter ballot language once it has been properly placed. He encouraged Dimond to use the established legal process for any future challenges.
Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.
