Board supports levy hike Decision to approve ballot language delayed

COEUR d’ALENE — After extensive debate Monday, Coeur d’Alene School District board members decided to put off approving ballot language for a supplemental levy increase.

The delay wasn’t for lack of support, but on account of concern regarding which ballot language to use. Attorney Danielle Quade presented board members with different options on ballot language. One option would give voters the chance to support a $20 million levy for only two years, with a separate question to make it permanent. Board members were concerned about voters getting confused, or splitting the vote, if two questions were on the ballot. Both questions could fail to pass in that scenario, Quade said. However, if a majority approved the permanent $20 million levy, that would trump a $20 million levy for two years, she said.

Another option would combine both the $20 million levy amount, and its permanence, into one ballot question. Board members decided to hold off on approving a levy amount and ballot language until next month’s meeting. Board clerk Lynn Towne said to be on the March ballot, language was due to the county by Jan. 22.

Board members came into the meeting fresh off reading the results of a public, informal survey to get feedback on a supplemental levy increase. Members of the public who spoke at the meeting expressed support for a levy increase. Some suggested it go even higher than the $20 million proposed by Superintendent Steve Cook.

Longtime school district employee Michael Emory has two boys in district schools. Emory said the proposed $4 million levy increase was great, “but you have an opportunity to make a difference that’ll be much beyond your tenure here on the board.” He asked the board to consider whether they wanted the district to perform adequately, or on an exceptional level.

Emory called current taxpayer costs “a bargain.”

Richard Roland told board members, “I am amazed at how little I pay in taxes.”

Several district employees suggested that they may end their tenure in the district due to higher pay on the other side of the state line.

Scott Travers said he recently bumped into a former district employee at a grocery store. She now works for the Central Valley School District, and told Travers that in retrospect, she should have left Coeur d’Alene schools years ago. Travers said she invited him to follow suit. Travers told the board that when he got home, he thought about what she had said.

Longtime district teacher Melissa McKenna said despite her love for her students and her multiple leadership positions in the district, the opportunity to make more in Spokane is hard for her to ignore.

“It’s weird to think about someday moving, but those thoughts have crossed my mind.”

She told the board that the district is “now at a point where staff members like myself will have to make a decision.”

Coeur d’Alene Education Association president Bruce Twitchell called the levy hike “right” for educators, students, and the community.

Cook said the $20 million levy amount was calculated carefully.

“The idea was to have something that wouldn’t feel very painful to the typical taxpayer.”

Board members questioned whether the district could afford to run bonds in future years if it increased the supplemental levy. Citing Piper-Jaffray models, Cook explained that the $20 million supplemental levy wouldn’t use up the district’s bonding capacity. The district could still refurbish or build new structures to make room for additional students, he said.

Board member Lisa May questioned the use of supplemental levies.

“M&O levies are a way for Idaho to inadequately fund public education.”

She also said that the levies disproportionately impact retirees on fixed incomes, who in coming years will comprise the county’s largest population. May spoke in support of raising salaries here, but feared smaller Idaho school districts would lose more teachers seeking higher pay here.

Board member Jennifer Brumley wanted to know if raising the levy to $21-22 million would significantly impact voter support for the levy increase. She also wanted to know if it would greatly affect the district’s goal of keeping tax rates flat. Cook said a 1 percent raise for classified employees would cost $154,000, and $460,000 for certified employees. Brumley expressed interest in a 5-6 percent pay raise.

Board chairman Casey Morrisroe said he supported the $20 million levy. The district faces mental health and staffing needs that require an increase, he said. However, he pushed back against raising it further. District needs must be balanced against the needs of taxpayers, he said.

“We can’t do everything at once. It’s a reasonable request, it’s a responsible request.”

“Ultimately it’s up the voter,” said Morrisroe. “If the voter doesn’t approve, the voter doesn’t approve.”

Board member Tom Hearn said it is the older generations’ obligation to ensure that current students have good schools. He said he lives on a fixed income and supports increasing the levy to $20 million. He also said he would be open to a larger levy increase.

The board will next meet on Jan. 7, 2019, at 5 p.m.