Lewiston, ID – Lewiston Firefighters IAFF Local 1773, the Union representing Lewiston’s professional firefighters, paramedics, and fire inspectors, is urging the community to vote YES on the Lewiston School District’s upcoming supplemental levy on March 14th.
Voters first approved the supplemental levy in 1986, and it has been renewed every five years. The current levy will expire on June 30, 2024, at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. This levy is not a new tax and would replace the existing levy at a lower rate upon expiration.
The Union believes the supplemental levy is crucial to maintaining our schools’ quality of education and safety. The levy provides 36% of the district’s funding, which includes essential programs like School Safety and Career Technical Training.
Local 1773 President, Tim Parker, says, “as Union laborists, we understand the importance of Career Technical Education Programs, the pipeline those programs create to living wage jobs, providing well-trained professionals on the front lines with little to no college debt. By supporting the supplemental levy, we are investing in our students and the future of our community by ensuring they receive the best possible education and training”.
The Union said they would also like to emphasize the importance of school safety and the role of the upcoming supplemental levy in ensuring that our schools remain safe and secure. The levy provides crucial funding for school safety measures such as security cameras, secure school entryways, and school resource officers from
the Lewiston Police Department.
Parker says one of the biggest reasons the Union supports the levy is “as firefighters and first responders, we understand the importance of being prepared for emergencies. We believe every student and staff member should have the proper resources and funding to feel safe and secure.”
The Union says by voting yes, our community is investing in the safety and security of our schools, along with many other services, which are essential for providing a conducive learning environment for our students.
The Union encourages all members of the Lewiston community to support the supplemental levy on March 14th. Parker says, “Your yes vote will make a difference in the lives of our students, schools, and community.”