Bonneville Joint School District 93 Seeks Two-Year, $9.6 Million Annual Levy in Idaho May Election to Close Budget Gap
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Voters in Bonneville Joint School District 93 will decide next month whether to approve a supplemental levy that district leadership says is essential to preserving core educational programs. The proposed measure, set to appear on the May ballot, would generate $9.6 million per year for two years and would replace the district’s existing levy while providing additional funding to address a widening budget shortfall.
District 93 Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme has been direct with the public about the financial situation facing one of East Idaho’s largest school districts. According to Woolstenhulme, the district has spent the past two years drawing down its fund balance — essentially its savings account — to maintain programs that have lost state funding support. That financial cushion is nearly gone.
“We’ve been using our fund balance — basically our savings account — to support programs that have lost state funding to support,” Woolstenhulme said.
Declining Enrollment Driving Financial Pressure
Superintendent Woolstenhulme identified two interconnected causes behind the district’s financial strain: declining student enrollment and corresponding budget reductions tied to that enrollment decline. In Idaho, school funding is closely linked to the number of students a district serves. As enrollment drops, state funding follows — leaving districts like Bonneville Joint School District 93 with fewer dollars to maintain existing programs.
For District 93, that dynamic has created a growing structural deficit. Rather than immediately cutting programs, district leadership chose to use reserve funds as a temporary bridge. But officials now acknowledge that approach has reached its limit. Without new revenue, the district faces difficult decisions about which programs survive and which are eliminated.
Taxpayers and parents considering the levy can learn more about the Bonneville school trustees’ phased budget cuts approved amid the ongoing shortfall, which outline the steps the district has already taken before bringing this measure to voters.
Programs at Stake if Levy Fails
District officials confirmed that several programs directly affecting students across Bonneville County would be at risk if voters reject the levy. Those programs include:
Full-Day Kindergarten, which gives young students an extended instructional day and is widely used by working families across the Idaho Falls and Ammon communities. Gifted and Talented Education, which serves high-achieving students who require accelerated or enrichment programming beyond standard curriculum. And elementary Physical Education and Music, which provide foundational development opportunities for younger students throughout the district.
According to district leadership, if the levy fails, these programs will likely be phased out over the coming years as the district exhausts what little remains of its savings. There is no alternate funding mechanism identified to replace them under the current budget structure.
The stakes for families and taxpayers are significant. Understanding the full implications of the upcoming vote is critical — residents can review a community-focused breakdown of what the May 19th vote means for students, schools, and the community for additional context on the decision ahead.
What Comes Next
The levy question will go before Bonneville Joint School District 93 voters in the May election. If approved, the measure will generate $9.6 million annually for two years, replacing the current levy and providing the additional funding necessary to keep existing programs intact. If the levy fails, district officials have indicated that program cuts will be phased in over time as the remaining fund balance is depleted.
District 93 serves students across Idaho Falls, Ammon, Iona, Ucon, and surrounding Bonneville County communities. Voters are encouraged to verify their registration status and polling location ahead of Election Day. For statewide education funding context, visit Idaho News.