How much will this cost me as a homeowner? Will it raise my taxes?
  • In September 2022, the School Board adopted a level bond levy amount of 7.5 million per year to pay for the outstanding bond payments for Cottonwood Elementary and Rigby High School. The amount patrons are paying for the outstanding school district bonds is $327 per $100,000 of your home’s assessed value. Of this $327 per $100,000, $156 will be allocated to the new bond.  This amount will not go up and could go down when more people move into the county. If the new bond is approved the amount that is being collected to pay for the school districts outstanding bonds and the addition of new bonds will not change the amount that is currently being collected by the county for the school district. By extending the time we pay the current bond levy amount, we are able to keep that amount stable for tax payers even when adding this new bond.  As the Cottonwood and Rigby High School bonds are paid off, we will make bigger payments to the new proposed bond. 

Why does the School District Need to do a Bond right now?
  • Over the last 15 years, the District has grown at an average rate of 3% a year. What does that mean? Over the last 5 years alone, Jefferson School District has added over 1000 students; that is enough to fill two elementary schools or one large middle school. This bond will address the current overcrowding and some future growth.​
What was the last passed bond and was it successful?
  • In August 2018, the Jefferson School District Patrons passed a $36,000,000 bond which included a new Elementary School (Cottonwood Elementary), expand Harwood and Midway Elementary Schools, new playground equipment at Roberts Elementary School and additional paved parking lot at Rigby High School.  The District was able to successfully complete all of the projects within the bond amount.
Why do we as taxpayers need to fund these new facilities? Doesn't the state fund school building in Idaho?
  • The state of Idaho does not fund buildings. The burden of construction, maintenance, and renovations falls almost entirely on the local community. The only option for construction funds is through a bond on property taxes.
  • Please see the video on this page for more Bond Financial Information
What types of programs would be included in a CTE (Career Technical Education) program at Rigby High School?
  • Currently Rigby High School offers some CTE courses at the current High School Facility.  Possible course offerings could include options in Engineering/Technology, Medical, Construction, Automotive, Agriculture and Business.  For a more detailed list of courses, review the CTE Project Summary page.

    Do You Have a Question?
What problems are being addressed by this Bond?
  • There is current overcrowding at Rigby High School. Once a new Middle School is built, the old Rigby Middle School will be vacated, renovated and converted to offer normal high school classes and further CTE offerings at the High School. This addition to the High School campus will alleviate the current overcrowding at Rigby High School and provide for future growth.
  •  Farnsworth Middle School is in need of additional classroom space. A classroom addition will alleviate the current overcrowding and provide for future growth.
  • Roberts Elementary does not currently have a dedicated gymnasium space. Instead, there is a multi-purpose room that also serves as the cafeteria. A new full-size gym would provide needed opportunities to the students and community members at Roberts.
Why not a new High School?
  • Based on current construction costs for school construction, the District does not currently have the available bonding capacity to pay for a new High School. However by building a new Middle School, the old Rigby Middle School building can be added to the Rigby High School campus and converted to a CTE (Career Technical Education) facility. This plan enhances the potential learning experience of all High School students.
  • Even if the District could build a new High School, all the other needs being addressed in this bond would remain needs in our District.
  • A new High School is part of our future plan and the District already owns land which has been set aside for this future High School.
How is a Bond different than a LEVY?
  • Traditional public schools are allowed to receive patron approval to levy property taxes for the support of the school system.  When speaking of a “levy”, the school district is referring to short-term tax which can be used as discretionary funding.  Typically, levies only require a simple majority, 50%, to be approved.  When speaking of a “bond”, the school district is referring to a long-term tax which can only be used to construct, remodel, and furnish school building facilities.  In the state of Idaho, school bonds require a supermajority, 66.7%, to be approved.  This means there would need to be at least twice as many votes in support of the bond as compared to what would be required for a normal levy