Clearing up school levy confusion

The Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Lakeland Joint school districts all have levies going to the voters March 9.

These levies provide substantial amounts of funding for these districts, up to 30% of their general fund budgets, and cover what state and federal funds don't.

A supplemental levy is allowed under Idaho Code to permit school districts to ask voters to provide additional funding for any school district operational cost. In 2006, the state funding mechanism for public education shifted to rely on local taxpayer support to fund essential programs, services and activities. The levies are considered by districts to provide more than just "supplemental" funds, as levies provide critical dollars that bridge a public education funding gap.

The tax rate is the dollar rate per thousand of assessed value of a given property that is used to calculate a yearly tax bill.

Coeur d'Alene's levy request is $40 million over two years, or $20 million per year with a tax rate of $1.71 per $1,000 of taxable assessed value.

With the $100,000 homeowner's exemption for a primary residence applied to a $300,000 assessed property value, for example, taxable value is brought down to $200,000. Last November's school tax bill for this Coeur d'Alene taxpayer would have been $358 for the full year. With the renewal of the $20 million levy for that same assessed value property, the annual tax charge would actually go down $16 for the entire year. This is if assessed value remains the same. If assessed value increases, say, 10%, that $300,000 assessed value home would only see an $18-per-year school tax bill increase.

Lakeland's levy request is $19 million over two years, or $9.5 million per year. The 2021-2022 overall estimated levy rate is $2.60 per $1,000, 13 cents less than last year. A $300,000 home at $200,000 after the homeowner's exemption would cost the taxpayer $520 per year.

Post Falls' request is $9.91 million for two years, for a total of $4.955 million per year and a tax rate of $1.70 per $1,000. A homeowner with a home valued at $300,000 with the $100,000 homeowner's exemption for a primary residence would pay $340 per year.

Because of the new construction boom and an influx of residents expanding the tax base, the annual cost to the taxpayer per $100,000 of assessed value is not expected to change in any district.