MIDDLETON, Idaho (KBOI) – The Middleton School District is trying to pass a supplemental levy after the same measure was voted-down by residents back in March.

Middleton is one of several school districts trying to get a levy through on the May 15 primary ballot. Officials say if it doesn’t pass, it will put more strain on an already tight budget.

For more than a decade, a supplemental levy has passed in the the district every two years. That’s why administrators were so shocked when voters turned it down in March and now they are concerned about already dwindling budgets.

“Adding another million dollar hit on top of the $1.9 would drop a lot of these programs that we have now, and cause a pretty good decrease in the quality of education,” said Rich Bauscher, superintendent.

Vallivue and the Horseshoe Bend School Districts are also trying to get their levies passed later this month after failing to do so in March. In Middleton, teachers took the majority of the cuts over the last three years and they are hoping voters will support the measure.

“I’ve been in education for 13 years, and I don’t remember a year where we didn’t talk about severe cuts in education,” said Terry Hardy, a Middleton High School teacher. “The three years I’ve been in Middleton we have looked at cuts and we are working bear bones.”

The school did a survey and found those who voted no thought their taxes would go up. The superintendent says if approved taxes wouldn’t increase, but would just stay at the current level. Students are even getting involved because after school sports programs are free to participate in, and they would have to go to a “pay for play system” if the levy fails again.

“I could, but I’m not sure about my teammates and Middleton has this brand new beautiful high school,” said Kami Evans, student body president.

The cost of the levy for an average home in Middleton would be $106 per year. But if it doesn’t pass, the current levy will expire in June.