Nampa School District leaders were relieved and delighted when their second try at a supplemental levy sailed through, the percentage rising with each new batch of ballots counted.

Kuna district leaders faced much more suspense, with ‘no’ votes easily outnumbering ‘yes’ votes in the district’s five Canyon County precincts. But when the nine Ada County precincts’ results were finally announced about 11 p.m., Kuna had prevailed with a total ‘yes’ vote of about 53 percent. The $3.19 million per year, two year levy will be used to maintain staffing levels, eliminate most of the recently implemented class and other fees, and retain the drver’s education program.

“We did not have any idea how this would go,” Kuna School Board Chairman Carl Ericson said. “We really appreciate the patrons for coming out and voting for this levy and letting us know how they want this school district run and how they want their children educated.”

In Nampa, School Board Chairman Scott Kido said: “I was pretty concerned. Almost everyone I talked to was very supportive, but you just never know.”

The win — with nearly 64 percent voting yes on the levy — came after the Nampa district cut its request by more than half, asking residents to OK a two-year levy of $1.6 million per year to help pay for curriculum, technology, supplies and maintenance.

The district’s first try, in March, sought $3.58 million each year for two years.

District officials had hoped that by keeping the revised levy at the same level as the previous supplemental levy, district residents would vote for approval because their tax burden would not increase.

But they also feared that recently discovered budgeting errors, which caused a $2.8 million shortfall for this school year, could cause angry taxpayers to reject the measure.

“I’m just so happy that the community has supported us,” Kido said. “We just have a responsibility to make sure that we take care of that levy money and use it wisely … rebuild that trust.”

The approved levy means the district will be able to provide classroom supplies and make a long-needed update to its reading curriculum, Kido said.

Notus and Wilder school district residents also easily passed the levy requests on their ballots.

Wilder’s two-year, $310,000 supplemental levy drew 63.5 percent support to help maintain and operate the district’s schools. Supplemental levies require simple majority support.

In Notus, two 10-year levies drew “yes” votes from more than three-quarters of participating district residents. The plant facility levy required two-thirds approval to raise about $150,000 per year for school upkeep and remodeling. A COSSA levy will contribute about $67,000 per year to help support the coalition of small Canyon and Owyhee county school districts.

Here are the results:

KUNA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Two-year supplemental levy of $3.19 million per year.

For: 1,671 53%

Against: 1,478 47%

NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Two-year supplemental levy of $1.6 million per year.

For: 3,403 64%

Against: 1,927 36%

HOMEDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Ten-year cooperative service agency levy of $150,000 per year.

For: 54 64%

Against: 31 36%

NOTUS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Ten-year plant facility levy of $150,000 per year. Two-thirds approval required.

For: 188 76%

Against: 58 24%

Ten-year year cooperative service agency levy of $67,777 per year.

For: 192 78%

Against: 55 22%

WILDER SCHOOL DISTRICT

Two-year supplemental levy of $310,000 per year.

For: 224 63%

Against: 129 37%

Kristin Rodine: 377-6447