Kellogg levy vote is Tuesday

KELLOGG - A supplemental levy vote considered critical to the future of the Kellogg School District is set for Tuesday.

The proposal is for $3.26 million each year for the next two years, and would maintain funding for current programs and staff, according to the district's Financial Advisory Committee.

The levy's passage by a simple majority means property taxes would be $6.86 per $1,000 of assessed value. This means that for a $175,000 home, the annual amount for the supplemental levy tax would be $881.20 - just under $74 monthly.

Superintendent Sandra Pommerening said levy supported programs and positions include elementary science, the school nurse, elementary technology, full-day kindergarten, KMS and KHS in-school suspensions, KMS home economics, KMS art, technology upgrades, field trips, baseball and soccer.

If the levy fails, Pommerening said programs and positions not covered by state funding would be subject to reduction.

Pommerening said the exact list of positions and programs that would be eliminated has not been established because it depends on the final draft of state budget legislation.

"Because the state's not finished, it's hard to tell what would be cut," she said. "Until then it's not a good idea to scare folks. We'll try to balance any cuts to minimize the impact."

Pommerening said in the meantime the district has been reducing costs around the edges and listing budget information on http://www.ksd391.org/budgetcomm.htm - a section of the KSD 391 Web site.

Polls at Canyon Elementary, Pinehurst Elementary, Sunnyside Elementary and Smelterville City Hall will be open from noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday.