LEWISTON, ID – Voters in Lewiston rejected a $25 million general obligation bond measure on Tuesday.  Local supporters of the bond had conducted a “Yes for Pipes” campaign, saying the bond was a key component to create a “vibrant downtown.”

Unofficial election results show the bond measure failed, with 1,968 votes for and 1,211 against. Voter turnout was low.

The measure required a two-thirds majority to pass.

According to the City of Lewiston, the bond funds were to be used for coordinated upgrades to aging underground water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure to maintain service reliability and meet regulatory requirements. It would have also funded street repairs impacted by construction. “Rather than tackling these issues in piecemeal fashion—leading to multiple disruptions, potential rising costs, and inefficiencies—the proposed project is designed as a coordinated effort,” said a press release.

City officials say they had planned to use existing budgeted revenues to repay the bond. Lewiston’s annual budget process accounts for future capital projects by allocating annual revenues and maintaining reserves for critical repairs. As a result, a press release said the city did not anticipate an additional charge on tax or utility bills for this specific project.

If the city revenues are not sufficient to make future bond payments, the estimated maximum tax impact of a $25,000,000, 30-year bond is $36.15 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value per year (before any homeowner’s exemption).

Before the election, city officials said alternative funding would be sought if the bond failed.  The funding options could include exploring a vote to increase property taxes, a utility rate adjustment or phased project implementation, which the city says could increase the overall costs and prolong construction disruptions to businesses and traffic.