Madison seeks to renew current levy on May 19th, 2026
In the regularly scheduled March board meeting, the Madison 321 Board of Trustees unanimously voted to seek renewal of the two-year, $ 1.995 million dollar a year operational levy. The election to renew this levy will be facilitated by Madison County and will be on the May 19th, 2026 ballot.
“We appreciate the taxpayers and patrons placing value in education and keeping this levy in place since 2015. We believe the district has been very good stewards of these levy dollars and hope you continue to trust us to fill the ongoing needs, which require ongoing funds, here within our district.”
Madison Superintendent, Randy Lords
The levy will focus funds on specific areas that address ongoing, critical district needs. These investments help maintain the quality, safety, and opportunities our community expects from our schools.
1. Salaries and Benefits
MSD will utilize this levy to continue employing additional staff to keep class sizes to a minimum and maintain current services. Currently Idaho State is funding MSD for 284 teachers and 97 support staff positions. MSD employs 300 teachers and 143 support staff positions. Support staff includes: para educators, bus drivers, custodial, maintenance, office, food service and technology personnel.
2. Safety / Technology
MSD will utilize this levy in maintaining a contract with the City of Rexburg to have Resource Officers in our schools. MSD will continue to update old/broken security cameras as well as adding new ones for more coverage. This levy will help keep servers, software and other technology up to date to help protect students and staff from the increasing number of online threats. MSD contracts with the City of Rexburg for $228 thousand to have Officers in the schools. MSD is expecting to receive $70 thousand from the State for security purposes. MSD currently budgets $1 million on technology and is expecting to receive $600 thousand from the State for this purpose.
3. Curriculum
MSD strives to rotate curriculum adoption every year. This is done to keep up with giving teachers better resources to support students, maintain an up-to-date curriculum, and stay in compliance with State mandates. Curriculum adoption generally cost $.5 to $1 million. MSD is expecting to receive approximately $46 thousand from the State for this purpose.
4. Buses/ Transportation
MSD seeks to purchase new buses to support a growing student population and retire old buses. MSD currently has 60 buses ranging in age from 1999 to 2026. The cost of one new bus is $155 thousand.
*TOTAL BUDGET: $1,995,000 (each year) *Same amount since 2015
For levy questions, contact a building administrator or the district office at (208) 359-3300
VOTING DAY INFORMATION
VOTING DAY:
May 19th, 2026; between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm
Early Voting: April 27th- May 15th
What:
$1,995,000 a year for 2 years
Supplemental Levy can be in place for 2 years before voters need to reapprove
MSD has levied $1,995,000 since 2015
Budget:
$995,000: Salaries and Benefits
$400,000: Safety/Technology
$400,000: Curriculum
$200,000: Buses/Transportation
“The estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer on the proposed levy is a tax of $52.97 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, 2026, that currently costs $52.97 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. Therefore, if the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 of taxable assessed value is not expected to change. The levy will be assessed for two years.”
Frequently Asked Questions
“The estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer on the proposed levy is a tax of $52.97 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions. The proposed levy replaces an existing levy that expires on June 30, 2026, that currently costs $52.97 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. Therefore, if the proposed levy is approved, the tax per $100,000 of taxable assessed value is not expected to change. The levy will be assessed for two years.”