SHOSHONE COUNTY, Idaho – Voters in Shoshone County will soon decide on two significant ballot items affecting local education and law enforcement funding.
The Wallace School District is proposing a supplemental levy exceeding one million dollars for two years. If approved, property owners would pay $222 per $100,000 of assessed value. This levy would support about 13 teachers, 15 staff members and extracurricular activities, including bus drivers.
Superintendent Todd Howard emphasized the importance of the levy.
“The majority of the things that we use our supplemental levy for is staffing. It helps provide additional elective courses at the Jr/Sr High level,” said Howard.
These courses include shop, art, screen printing and weights. The school district noted that the levy amount has decreased by 15 percent since 2016.
Meanwhile, the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a two million dollar override levy for two years. If approved, it would cost $41.61 per $100,000 of assessed value. This proposal is in response to a funding shortfall following a $500,000 budget cut from last year.
If the levy fails, the sheriff’s office warns of significant reductions in personnel and services.
The situation is further complicated by the recent resignation of Sheriff Holly Lindsey. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office is now investigating her in connection with a hit-and-run incident.
Interim Sheriff Lance Stutzke expressed his concerns. “I’m filling the role of the sheriff and the undersheriff and putting it all on my shoulders right now. And without that levy, one of my first acts as the sheriff could be to lay people off,” said Stutzke.
Residents have until 8:00 p.m. on November 4 to vote in person or submit absentee ballots.
