Lakeland, St. Maries levies approved

Look forward to new textbooks next year.

Voters threw Lakeland School District a life preserver on Tuesday by passing a levy that will provide for keeping up the basics like new textbooks and library materials.

Polls saw 1,085 vote in support and 481 against. The 69 percent approval well surpassed the majority needed to pass the levy of $3.25 million per year over two years.

"It's a huge relief," said Finance Director Tom Taggart on Tuesday night. "We didn't want to think about the possibility of not doing it."

The victory was critical for district officials, he said, who otherwise would have had to reinstate previous cuts to programs and educational materials.

"I think we've always had really good community support," Taggart said, adding that this election saw nearly double the turnout of a district levy election two years ago. "I think our supporters see we do an excellent job and want to keep it that way."

But the district still has challenges to face.

Even with the levy, which will raise taxes by $48 per year for those who own homes worth $180,000, the district is still gripped by budget constraints due to state holdbacks.

Lakeland has chosen to slash salaries and benefits by $850,000 to stay afloat, Taggart said.

"I don't think it's ever good for morale. The pay was frozen this year and next year it will be reduced, so it's always tough to keep up people's spirits," Taggart acknowledged. "But I think everybody realizes that it's tough times, and people who are paying the tax bills are in it, too. I felt it was the right thing for all of us to be a part of that."

Tuesday also saw a huge win for the St. Maries School District, where voters passed a one-year levy of $850,000.

The measure passed with 771 in support and 527 opposed, said Superintendent Dave Cox.

"It will basically provide for critical needs that were apparent in our school district," Cox said.

These include replacing outdated textbooks, purchasing new computers and a new school bus, as well as maintaining buildings, academic programs and student activities.

Many of these were cut in the past few years as the district suffered funding reductions of more than $1 million, Cox said.

"With the passage of the levy, we'll be able to add some of those things that we had to take out prior to this," he said. "I think that our patrons have always supported our schools and students, and even during these tough economic times they passed this because I believe they trust that the trustees have used their money wisely in the past."

The levy will also help cover a $1.37 million budget shortfall anticipated for next year, he said.

It doesn't cover that whole gap, though, and the district is still faced with slashing $520,000 more from the budget.

"We're in the process of meeting and conferring with teachers," Cox said. "We have several retirements and a resignation that will help, so we'll save dollars by not replacing them."

Taggart said school districts will continue facing weighty decisions with the massive state holdbacks.

"The cuts are so large, you're seeing it across the state and across districts where they're cutting whole programs or have to lay off people," Taggart said. "It will start showing up in results pretty soon, in terms of students."