Coeur d'Alene bond, levy easily approved
The Coeur d’Alene School District received overwhelming support from the community Tuesday as both the district’s levy and bond proposals passed with flying colors.
“We’re very happy for our kids,” said Superintendent Matt Handelman. “We had a good message, a clear message and it resonated in the community and we’re very appreciative of that support.”
The supplemental maintenance and operations levy for $16 million per year for two years was approved with 5,568 votes out of 7,048, 79 percent of the votes. The levy needed 50 percent of the vote plus one to pass.
The amount is a $1 million annual increase from the district’s current levy. The additional funds will support seat belts on buses, adoption of an English Language Arts curriculum and decreasing class sizes.
Ongoing levy dollars pay for curriculum materials and textbooks, school resource officers, transportation, extracurricular activities, technology, para-professionals and facility maintenance.
Voter-approved supplemental levies are in place in districts throughout Idaho, and are used to fill the gaps between state funding and the cost of running school districts. They must be approved by voters every two years.
The Coeur d’Alene School District currently relies on supplemental levy dollars for over 20 percent of its General Fund.
The $35.5 million bond was also approved with 77.33 percent of the vote with 5,431 voting in favor, and 1,592 voting against the measure. A bond, which is a voter-approved funding mechanism that provides financing to fund large construction projects and equipment purchases for government agencies, 66.67 percent of votes to pass.
The bond will fund the construction of a new elementary school plus additions and upgrades to Coeur d’Alene High School, Lake City High School, Lakes Magnet Middle School and Dalton Elementary School. It will also be used to improve parking lot safety at Fernan STEM Academy and upgrade the gym floor at Hayden Meadows Elementary School.
Property taxes will not go up for property taxpayers in the Coeur d’Alene School District, as promised by the district. Property tax rates will stay at $2.31 per $1,000 of taxable assessed property value — a property's value, as determined by a tax assessor, minus applicable property tax exemptions.
Board member Dave Eubanks said he’s never seen a bond measure be passed with such a high percentage of “yes” votes.
“It really shows our community understands what our needs are and are supportive,” Trustee Eubanks said. “This will truly improve life for our kids and make for a better school district for everyone involved.”