Voters approve school levies on election night

By CHANSE WATSON

Managing Editor

WALLACE — Depending on the race or initiative, roughly 39% of registered Shoshone County voters showed up to the polls on Tuesday to cast their votes for presidential primary nominees and local school district levies.

On the hyper local side of the ballot, voters who reside in the Kellogg School District overwhelmingly approved a $5,970,000 ($2,985,400 per year) two-year replacement supplemental levy for the district by a vote of 1,019 “in favor of” to 578 “against.”

Funds from this levy will provide funding for any lawful expenses of maintaining and operating the Kellogg School District.

According to the election notice, the estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer on the levy is a tax of $449 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions. The now approved levy will replace the district’s existing supplemental levy, which expires July 1 and has an annual cost of $403 per $100,000 of assessed value per year. The net effect, based on current conditions, is a $46 per $100,000 increase per year.

While it wasn’t by the same margins as their neighbors to the west, the Wallace School District also saw their two-year replacement supplemental levy be approved by their residents.

By a count of 492 “in favor of” to 376 “against,” the $3,600,000 ($1,800,000 per year) levy will take effect when the old levy expires on July 1.

The estimated average annual cost to taxpayers in the district is $583.23 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions. Currently, the district collects a supplemental levy authorized in the same amount of $1,800,000, which will expire when the proposed levy goes into effect.

Shifting to the U.S. Presidential Primary races, both Donald J. Trump and Joseph R. Biden coasted to victories.

Trump’s 1,336 votes were more than his five opponents’ totals combined — which equaled out to 48 votes.

Biden on the democratic party side garnered 577 votes, leaving runner-up Bernie Sanders behind with 324 votes.

All results are unofficial until approved by the Shoshone County Board of County Commissioners.