Split decision

RATHDRUM - One Lakeland School District levy proposal unofficially passed late Tuesday night, while another failed in close votes.

The supplemental levy, which supports maintenance and operations of the district, is for $4.95 million per year for two years. It passed with 52.72 percent approval in Kootenai County. There were 815 "yes" votes and 731 "no."

A simple majority - 50 percent plus one vote - was needed for the proposal to pass.

The plant facility levy, used to help fund building repairs, buildings, equipment, buses and classroom furniture, was for $905,000 per year for 10 years. It fell just short of approval.

In Kootenai County, 53.34 percent approval was obtained (823 yes; 720 no).

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

In Bonner County, 13 "yes" votes were cast and 28 "no" in both proposals. The numbers are not reflected in the Kootenai County numbers.

Tom Taggart, the district's finance director, said had the supplemental failed, it would've meant cuts.

"This way we can operate as we are now," he said. "It's not a big plus as far as new programs, but to get the public's support, especially in these economic times, is significant."

Taggart said the district will evaluate whether to float another plant facility proposal either in May or August.

"We need to have some amount," he said. "Otherwise we'll be paying some out of our General Fund. We'd want to do (another proposal) before September and the start of the school year and when taxes are sent to the county."

Taggart was pleased with the turnout.

"It seems like it was a decent turnout," Taggart said. "I know there was a lot of interest and a lot of absentee votes."

Absentee votes didn't point to an approval outcome heading into the final tally. Of the 274 absentee votes, only 90 (32.9 percent) voted "yes" on each levy.

"I didn't like seeing that," Taggart said. "That wasn't a good way to start.

With the supplemental passes, it means a $62.31 per year tax increase from the current levy for the owner of a $150,000 home.

If the plant facility levy would have been approved, that would mean an $11.92 per year increase from the current levy for the average homeowner.

However, since the district recently paid off some bonds and the levy for the Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC), a technical-professional school being built in Rathdrum, expires after this year, the average homowner would have paid about $10 less (3.5 percent) per year in school taxes overall than the current year even if both levies passed.