It could become just a little bit easier for cities and school districts in Idaho to approve bonds.

The House Local Government Committee approved a bill Wednesday that would lower the threshold for approving municipality and school bonds from a 66.66 percent vote to a 60 percent vote.

Bonds are voter-approved funding mechanisms that provide financing for large construction projects and equipment purchases for government agencies.

Idaho’s Constitution currently requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass bonds. For years, local school and government officials have said that requirement is too high and prevents critical projects from moving forward.

“?Idaho is one of only a few states that provides zero funding toward building construction and requires a [two-thirds] super majority for construction bond approval,” said Casey Morrisroe, board chair of the Coeur d’Alene School District. “For many districts in Idaho, particularly small rural districts, this high approval bar has been insurmountable.”

To go into effect, the bill has to be approved with a two-thirds vote in the House and the Senate, and Idaho voters have to approve it with a simple majority vote in November.

Rep. Paul Amador, R-Coeur d’Alene, said he hasn’t seen the bill yet, but is willing to explore it. He noted Idaho has a hard time passing bonds. He put it in perspective this way: “Can you imagine two-thirds of politicians agreeing on anything?”

“I do understand that we don’t want to bond ourselves out,” he continued. “But I appreciate the fact that a small minority of people can’t prevent important things like bonds from passing.”

Both Jerry Keane, superintendent of the Post Falls School District, and Matt Handelman, superintendent of the Coeur d’Alene School District, said a 60 percent threshold sounds reasonable, considering all the other hurdles school districts have to go through to get funding.

Coeur d’Alene residents had varying views Thursday about the state’s bond threshold.

Cathy Gephart, a Press reader, is in favor of the proposed 60 percent bar.

“Bonds are for developing our city, making it better and making our schools better,” she told The Press. “I have kids, and for their education, I would pay the tax.”

Friends Jeff Culver and Dan Vanrooy from Coeur d’Alene disagreed, saying they’re tired of getting taxed.

“It should stay at 66 percent,” Culver said. “Just how much money do [schools] need? When I was in school you didn’t hear about bonds every year, I’m tired of it.”

“All the homeowners will get nicked with [taxes if bonds pass],” Vanrooy added. “If anything, they should make it harder [to pass a bond].”

Coeur d’Alene business owner Christopher Holm wasn’t sure he was convinced on one side or the other.

“It’s a fight that’s been going on forever; do we have lower taxes or more social and community projects?” he said. “As parent of three children, I’m in favor of improving the schools, but as a business owner, I’m very much conflicted on that.”