After 35 years and nearly $1.3 billion in proceeds, Idahoans know their lottery dividends benefit public education. During the 2024 legislative session, the Idaho Legislature passed Governor Little’s plan for historic school investment and property tax relief for Idaho’s citizens that ensures lottery proceeds will continue making meaningful contributions to Idaho’s public schools and buildings. Every play benefits Idaho’s schools, students, and property taxpayers:
- Idaho Lottery dividends will continue benefiting public school district facilities by paying down voter-approved bonds and levies.
- Every school district will receive monies from the School District Facilities Fund based on average daily attendance.
- The Department of Education will continue to receive 5/8 of the Lottery dividend annually.
- The Permanent Building Fund will continue to receive 3/8 of the Lottery dividend annually for state-owned facilities.
- If school districts do not have voter-approved bonds or levies, they will still receive funding for use on future school facilities or improvement projects.
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What’s Changed/ In Depth Info From 2008 until 2024, Idaho Lottery proceeds were divided by sending 3/8 to the Department of Education’s School District Building Account, 1/4 to the Department of Education’s Bond Levy Equalization Fund, and 3/8 to the Department of Administration’s Permanent Building Fund. The Permanent Building Fund piece remains unchanged.
During the 2024 legislative session, the Idaho Legislature passed House Bill 521 which consolidates the Department of Education’s funding into one source – the School Facilities Fund. This fund receives the 5/8 of the Lottery distribution, just like what was previously earmarked for public schools.
The funds in the School District Building Account were previously used for student owned and occupied school facilities for maintenance and operations. This also directly benefitted charter schools who owned and occupied their facility. House Bill 521 eliminates the School District Building Account and also does not allow for the School District Facility Fund monies to go to charter schools.
Proceeds delivered to the Bond Levy Equalization program were previously used to pay the interest on voter-approved and eligible bonds and levies from about half of Idaho’s school districts. Not every school district in Idaho was benefiting from this fund. The Bond Levy Equalization Fund will be phased out.
The dollars created from your play will now be used to pay down voter-approved bonds and levies across the state. If a district does not have a bond or levy, districts will be able to utilize their funds for future school facilities or improvement projects. Both of these outcomes lead to increased support for Idaho schools and years of immediate and future property tax relief for Idahoans.
