Voters reject Shelley Joint School District bond for $78 million to build new high school

SHELLEY — Voters in Bingham County voted loud and clear against a proposed bond to build a new high school in Shelley.

According to VoteIdaho’s unofficial election results, 64.52%, or 1,186 individuals, voted against the Shelley Joint School District 60 bond for $78.64 million.

Only 687 individuals voted in favor of the bond. A supermajority would have been needed for the proposal to pass.

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According to promotional flyers, the bond would have been used to build a new high school for the school district to address growing enrollment.

If the bond had passed, it would have lasted 20 years and cost taxpayers $423 per $100,000 taxable assessed value annually.

This is now the second time the school district has attempted to persuade voters to pass a bond.

In the 2023 election, 880 voters, or 48%, voted in favor of the bond, while 938, or 51.6%, voted against it.

However, that bond would have been for $67.8 million.

District response

Superintendent Douglas McLaren told EastIdahoNews.com that while he was disappointed, he was appreciative of the community members going out to vote.

McLaren said in June he’ll gather with the building committee to decide on what to do next. McLaren said at the moment, this is not what the community wants right now.

He said to those that supported the bond to not lose hope, but that this is part of the process, and the district will need to see what to do about the need to find space.

“The need is still there,” McLaren said.

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