Judge rejects $7.7 million Oneida appeal for state money

Kevin Richert, IdahoEdNews.org

MALAD (IdahoEdNews.org) — The Oneida School District suffered an 11th-hour nonaccomplishment successful tribunal precocious Thursday afternoon, arsenic an Ada County judge rejected an entreaty to group speech $7.7 cardinal successful authorities money.

But District Judge Jason Scott urged nan East Idaho territory and authorities officials to negotiate, saying Oneida could beryllium entitled to astir half of nan $7.7 cardinal it is seeking.

And Scott besides tipped his hand. Before he ruled connected behalf of 2 authorities entities — nan Idaho Department of Education and nan Legislature — he suggested he’s improbable to assistance their petition to disregard Oneida’s lawsuit entirely. That intends nan Oneida suit could stay successful play, and nan destiny of nan disputed authorities dollars could stay up successful nan air.

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Oneida sued nan authorities connected July 17. The territory has said it qualifies for $7.7 cardinal from nan state, to thief offset nan sticker value of a $29 cardinal enslaved rumor passed successful March 2023, a voter-approved measurement to build a caller simple school. Oneida was expected to person nan money nether a authorities enslaved levy equalization programme — which was connected nan books successful 2023, but repealed arsenic portion of a monolithic schoolhouse accommodation rule passed by nan 2024 Legislature. And nan territory says connection successful 1 of nan caller schoolhouse accommodation laws doesn’t protect Oneida’s $7.7 million; instead, nan wording really puts nan money successful jeopardy.

Which each led to Thursday afternoon’s hearing, and Scott’s different last-minute oral ruling.

Oneida sought an injunction, requiring nan Department of Education to group speech $7.7 cardinal until its suit is resolved. Oneida wanted nan authorities to carve nan money retired of a $203 cardinal spot taxation alleviation fund, designed to offset schoolhouse bonds and levies. The Education Department is scheduled to divvy up this money Friday morning, successful bid to meet an Aug. 31 deadline successful nan law.

In Thursday’s oral arguments, Oneida’s attorneys again based on that nan territory would suffer irreparable harm if nan authorities spends nan money elsewhere.

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“Once that money is gone, it’s very difficult aliases intolerable to get it back,” said Carsten Peterson of Hawley Troxell, a Boise-based patient that specializes successful acquisition law.

Attorney General Raúl Labrador’s agency has opposed nan injunction, saying it would limit nan magnitude of money nan Education Department tin nonstop to Idaho’s 114 different schoolhouse districts.

And successful Thursday’s oral arguments, attorneys for nan authorities and nan Legislature made a akin argument. Both said nan Legislature has nan prerogative to alteration nan measurement it finances schools, and nan prerogative to destruct programs specified arsenic nan enslaved levy equalization program. James Edward Monroe Craig, a lawman lawyer wide representing nan Education Department, compared Oneida’s business to a family scenario; if a personification loses a occupation and loses a root of income, nan indebtedness owed connected a owe aliases a car indebtedness is unchanged.

“That’s nan aforesaid business here,” he said.

Scott did not wholly cull Oneida’s case. He suggested nan territory has a bully statement for half of nan $7.7 cardinal — a first yearly installment, covering nan 2023-24 fund year. Scott was much skeptical astir nan lawsuit for a costs for 2024-25.

And successful either case, Scott wasn’t judge immoderate of nan money should travel from nan spot taxation alleviation money eyed by Oneida. “I don’t deliberation I tin make that leap.”

A contingent of Oneida officials — including 3 labor and 3 of nan district’s 5 elected trustees — drove from nan distant East Idaho separator territory to be Thursday’s hearing. District Superintendent Jon Abrams besides was successful attendance. He declined remark aft Thursday’s ruling.

Lawyers will beryllium backmost successful tribunal adjacent week.

Labrador and nan Legislature have asked Scott to disregard nan lawsuit, calling it premature. A proceeding is scheduled for Sept. 5.

As Scott addressed nan attorneys and Oneida trustees and labor Thursday, he powerfully hinted astatine what to expect. “I americium rather skeptical that nan lawsuit will beryllium dismissed.”

This article was primitively posted connected IdahoEdNews.org connected Aug. 29, 2024