St. Maries to vote May 17 on $3.2 million levy

COEUR d'ALENE - Voters in the St. Maries School District will be asked to support a supplemental levy when they head to the polls on May 17.

The levy, if approved, will provide the district's general fund with local property tax revenue equaling $1.6 million per year for the next two years.

Board chair Marge Gannon told The Press that setting the levy amount was a difficult decision for trustees because they know it's a tough time for all taxpayers.

"And we really worry about the ones on fixed incomes," Gannon said.

The cost to property owners is estimated to be $3.33 per $1,000 of taxable assessed property value, which is equivalent to the existing tax rate.

Successful passage of the levy is not expected to increase property taxes because it will replace two expiring levies, including a one-year $850,000 levy approved by voters last year.

For the owner of a home assessed at $100,000, after the 2011 homeowner's exemption is applied, the annual cost of the $1.6 million levy, if approved by voters, will be an estimated $166 per year for the next two years. For the owner of a $200,000 home, the tax price goes up to $360 per year.

In addition to the $850,000 expiring levy, the district will lose additional funds due to an anticipated 1.3 percent cut in next year's state funding for public schools, and the loss of one-time money.

Without successful passage of the levy, the St. Maries district faces a $1.8 million budget shortfall for the next fiscal year.

To make up the difference between the $1.6 million levy and the total shortfall, the district will likely move money from its fund balance and consider other ways to save money, including delaying textbook purchases for a year.

Gannon said it also depends on the kind of transportation budget they have to work with.

"We have a heck of a bus route around here," she said.

The district is comprised of five rural schools, including one 28 miles south in Fernwood, the Up River School, which serves 100 elementary students. High school students in the Avery School District are also served by the St. Maries Joint School District.

"We've been making some tremendous cuts, and trying to do it in the most fair way possible," Gannon said.

Despite the passage of last year's $850,000 levy, the district had to slash an additional $520,000 from its budget. Since 2008, they've lost more than $1.5 million in revenue through state funding cuts and declining enrollment.

The public doesn't want the district to pare spending on extracurricular activities, and it's not something trustees want to do either, Gannon said.

But, like school districts throughout Idaho, there aren't many other places left for the St. Maries district to look for budget cuts.

"The school is the hub of the whole community," Gannon said. "But we don't want to keep cutting teachers. How are we going to keep our young teachers here when things are like this?"

Gannon, a 12-year board member, said the district's fund balance was $66,000 last year, lower than she has ever seen it. Through belt-tightening, they have a little more of a cushion this year.

With successful passage of the levy, Gannon said she thinks the district will be all right.

"But we aren't going to be living well," Gannon said.