West Ada School District trustee Mike Vuittonet frequently hears from residents that Treasure Valley’s growth should “pay for itself.”
In West Ada, property owners have been paying off $234 million of bond debt dating back to 2002.
Idaho is one of a handful of states that uses bonds and levies — property tax increases that must be approved by voters — as the only way to fund new construction in school districts. That means local taxpayers have to foot the bill for most new school construction, often with interest.