Lakeland tries plant facility levy again

RATHDRUM - Lakeland Joint School District voters will consider a plant facility levy of $800,000 per for five years on Tuesday that would fund building repairs, equipment, buses and classroom furniture.

A vote of at least 55 percent approval is needed for the proposal to pass.

Even if the levy is approved, the overall amount of property tax levied by Lakeland will decrease 11 percent next year due to other levies being reduced or eliminated.

However, if the measure fails, taxes on a $175,000 home after the homeowner's exemption would be reduced an additional $37 per year.

"Lakeland has utilized the plant facility levy for at least 50 years," said Tom Taggart, the district's finance director. "It is used to keep buildings and equipment safe and in useable shape. Without the levy, we would need to take money from our general instructional programs to provide for building upkeep and equipment replacement.

"Our taxpayers have invested a great deal over the years in schools throughout the district and we feel this investment needs to be maintained. We are utilizing buildings that are up to 75 years old in large part because we have been able to upgrade and repair them as needed."

Voters in March turned down a plant facility levy of $905,000 per year for 10 years. The proposal obtained 53 percent approval. While at the polls, voters approved a supplemental levy by about the same margin.

The proposed plant facility levy can't be used for operating expenses or salaries.

Taggart said the renewal of the levy was timed to coincide with the last payment on some bonds.

"This was a plan designed to allow our levy to continue without any (tax) increase to patrons," Taggart said.

The expiring plant facility levy is $575,000 per year for the past 10 years. During that time, the district added two new schools and expanded others.

"The additional square footage and grounds, combined with our existing buildings now being 10 years older, requires more each year just to maintain our schools so they are safe and efficient," a district newsletter states. "The amount of technology used in our district operations has grown dramatically and will continue to do so."

The district hopes to buy three or four buses a year to maintain a safe and efficient fleet. The funds could also be used to buy computers, enhance safety and make energy efficiency improvements.