High hopes

COEUR d'ALENE - They went for the whole ball of wax.

Coeur d'Alene School District trustees decided Monday to ask voters to approve a supplemental levy of $12.9 million per year for two years during a levy election set to take place March 8.

The five-member board voted 4-1 in favor of the amount, with Trustee Bill Hemenway casting the dissenting vote.

Board chair Edie Brooks said parents and businesses want a safe school system that produces graduates who are well-prepared for college or the workforce.

"All of those things would be in jeopardy if we just start cutting more," Brooks said.

Since early November, board members have been considering how much local property tax support they should request at the polls.

Superintendent Hazel Bauman previously recommended to trustees that they set the levy amount at no less than $11.5 million, although $12.9 million is what it would take to stabilize this year's budget - unless there are additional cuts in funding from the state.

At Monday's meeting, Bauman recommended they set the levy at the higher amount.

Coeur d'Alene has already seen a loss of $8.8 million from its general fund since 2009, mainly due to reductions in state education funding.

"You can see that we really have tightened our belts. Every area of the district has felt the impact of the recession," Bauman said.

Voter-approved supplemental levies are in place in districts throughout Idaho. They enable districts to enhance their programs beyond state funding.

Art, music and other extracurricular activities are supported by levy dollars in Coeur d'Alene, as are athletics, classroom supply, library, technology and custodial budgets.

Prior to the vote, Jan Fay, a district resident and teacher at Lake City High School, encouraged the board to "ask for as much as possible."

Fay said school taxes are embarrassingly low compared to other districts.

"We should be spending more," she said.

Coeur d'Alene's levy rate is the lowest of Idaho's 13 largest districts.

Although he voted in favor of the $12.9 million two-year levy, Trustee Sid Fredrickson expressed some concern that the measure's large amount could lead voters to reject it.

Hemenway had put forth a motion for a lower amount - $11.5 million - but it was not seconded.

He explained his proposal as being in the spirit of partnership, and said, "I don't think this is our toughest beachhead."

The ballot will be "menu-style" and will include a section for voters to approve just $7.8 million to replace an expiring two-year levy.

Bauman said it was a way for taxpayers who are struggling financially to continue to support the district without voting for the higher levy amount. However, if just a replacement levy of $7.8 million is approved, Bauman said the results will be "cataclysmic."

There will still be a shortfall of $5 million, because the district is losing one-time funding from federal stimulus programs and money appropriated from its fund balance.

If the levy fails at the polls, layoffs are likely for 115 full-time and 162 part-time support staff members - aides, custodians, secretaries, tech support, library assistants and managers, maintenance and bus drivers.

Voter rejection of any levy amount will also lead to elimination of activities programs, most funding for supplies, equipment, school resource officers and technology support.

Those voters who say yes to the $7.8 million will be asked to approve an additional $5 million as well, bringing the total levy amount to $12.9 million per year for two years.

Successful passage of the measure will increase taxes by about $68 per year for the owner of a home with a taxable value of $200,000.