Education
Education is important in the Magic Valley because it shapes the future generations that come after us. Every parent wants their child to receive a good education so that they have the foundational skills to seize opportunities as they come in life. A January 2022 evaluation report from the Office of Performance Evaluations (OPE) assessed the condition of K-12 public schools buildings across the state. Of the 77 school district administrators that participated in the survey conducted by OPE, 60% rated their schools buildings as being in “fair” or “poor” condition across all school types (elementary, middle, or high school). Schools that rated “fair” or “poor” have deferred maintenance needs that must be addressed and buildings that may need to be replaced entirely. In rural areas, replacing buildings through the bonding process is challenging. The condition of school buildings must be addressed and that burden should not be placed on property tax owners.
Additionally, approximately 12% of the students in the Magic Valley have disabilities and require specialized care. Schools need funding targeted specifically to the paraprofessionals that work with disabled students.
agriculture
Idaho’s agriculture together with food & beverage processing generates $20 billion dollars in sales. Agriculture and food processing generate 17% of Idaho’s total economic output in sales and are responsible for 12.5% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Magic Valley is an agricultural powerhouse in the state. The Total Market Value of Agricultural Products sold in the Magic Valley was $3.6 Billion according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture data. In District 24, Gooding County ranks no. 2 in the state and Twin Falls County follows at no. 3.
Agriculture – our farmers, ranchers, and dairymen – is the economic engine of the Magic Valley. It also forms the basis of our identity in the Magic Valley. Our farmers, ranchers, and dairymen work hard to feed our communities, our country, and the world. It is necessary to work with our farmers, ranchers, and dairymen to help craft solutions to our agricultural problems because a strong agriculture sector forms the basis of strong communities throughout the Magic Valley. Without agriculture, our economy grinds to a halt.
WATER
Water is the lifeblood of the Magic Valley. Without it, 200,000 would not be able to call the Magic Valley “home” and we would not be able to grow the 1.07 million acres of crops that we currently harvest in the region. Our water rights are vital and must be protected. Similarly, we must preserve our prior appropriation doctrine. Additionally, Investments in water infrastructure are crucial to maintain and expand our water storage capacity. Moreover, good water policy depends on accurate, current, and frequent data. Investing in tools that modernize data collection on our aquifers is crucial.
INFRASTRUCTURE
The Magic Valley is home to 200,000 people and they are divided by the Snake River Canyon. The Magic Valley needs a third bridge across the Snake River and it needs to connect to US 93. US Highway 93 is a critical rural freight corridor with significant agricultural truck traffic. However, the cost will likely exceed $600 million based on the Idaho Department of Transportation’s initial numbers in spring of 2023. With the Perrine Bridge aging and population in the valley increasing, a third bridge crossing is a necessity. Additionally, in 2023, the first Metropolitan Planning Organization was created. This organization, it is time to work with the entity and stakeholders to turn a twenty-year-old dream into reality.