Trustees to decide on funds

The Coeur d'Alene School District trustees anticipate making a final decision in early April about approving a proposed $32.7 million tax initiative, which would fund health and safety improvements for several school buildings.

The proposal could look different by then, though.

After a workshop on Monday, the four trustees asked the district's Long Range Planning Committee to consider removing some items they had included on a list of recommended improvements for 15 schools.

"That's our understanding," said Trustee Tom Hamilton of whether such tweaking could reduce the $32.7 million pricetag.

The committee's initial recommendation included providing major infrastructure improvements for five older schools, like classrooms upgrades, gym additions and heating and ventilation improvements. Other schools benefit from changes like wireless and service upgrades.

The trustees were primarily concerned about a tax initiative funding technologies with a short life span, Hamilton said, like computers.

If the district asks voters to approve a several-year bond, with payments spread over time, then the measure would be financing such technology for long after their life spans, he explained.

"I think generally the board was not in favor of a 15-year bond financing equipment with that short of life," Hamilton said, estimating that computers will last about five years before needing replacement. "It's OK to run a bond for infrastructure, but not for service equipment with a limited life."

That wouldn't so much apply to technology like HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems, he added, which have a life limit of about 30 years.

"You probably shouldn't finance equipment with a life shorter than the bond," Hamilton said.

The trustees expect the planning committee to present an updated plan at their April 2 meeting, he added.

The trustees will likely take action at the meeting, he said, which is also indicated in a letter sent to district affiliates by Superintendent Hazel Bauman.

"We sent them back for a little more work," he said.

The trustees have not made an official decision about whether they prefer asking voters to fund improvements with a bond measure, Hamilton said, or with a Plant Facilities Levy, where taxes would be collected and spent each year on specific budgeted items.

With Lake City High School's bond and the Kootenai Technical Education Campus levy dropping off taxes this year, the district could levy 42 cents per $1,000 without raising taxes, according to Bauman's letter.

The trustees encourage citizens to contact them with opinions on how, or whether, to fund the desired improvements, Hamilton said.

"It'll be nice to have a gauge on where those people are at supporting a bond," he said.

Comments may be mailed to: Hazel Bauman, superintendent/ 311 North 10th Street/ Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814. They can also be e-mailed to: hbauman@cdaschools.org.

Hamilton noted that the crowd was sparse at the district's Monday workshop.

"These decisions are hard enough to make without hearing from the public," he said.