St. Maries to float school levy

by Brian Walker; Staff Writer
| January 28, 2013 9:33 AM

ST. MARIES — The St. Maries School District will float a two-year, $1.84 million supplemental levy proposal to voters on March 12.

If the levy is approved with a vote of at least 50 percent plus one, it would cost the owner of a $100,000 home with a homeowner's exemption $41 per year.

If approved, the levy would replace the current $1.617 million supplemental levy that is about to expire.

Like many school districts, St. Maries has relied on funding that supplements the state allocation for the past 30 years.

The supplemental levy accounts for 26 percent of the district's General Fund budget.

"What is driving the need for a levy is reduced funding due to lost enrollment compounded by our reliance on the General Fund due to insufficient funding from the state," said St. Maries Superintendent Joe Kren. "Because of reductions to the state General Fund and the state funding formulas, we have reduced expenditures by roughly $1.6 million over the past four years."

St. Maries’ student enrollment has gradually decreased over the past 25 years, dropping from 1,455 in 1984-85 to 942 this year.

To lessen the amount of funding needed for next year’s budget, the school board reduced $204,300 in expenditures from the budget. The reductions included a bus purchase ($43,500), travel, custodial and technology ($42,300), a certified position ($60,000), classified position ($17,500), supplies ($30,000) and extra-curricular activities ($11,000).

"While the district is once again asking its patrons to vote on another supplemental levy, the request has not come without first reducing expenditures," Kren said.

Kren said if the levy does not pass, the board will need to consider additional reductions to personnel and programs.

"The district greatly appreciates our patrons’ supporting our schools the way they have done," Kren said. "This support has allowed us to provide a quality educational experience. We recognize the difficult financial times everyone is facing and grateful for what patrons have done in light of this."