Coeur d'Alene School Board votes to run $25M levy election in November

COEUR d'ALENE — Trustees of the Coeur d’Alene School Board made a unified decision Wednesday to put forth to voters a $25 million-per-year, two-year supplemental levy ballot measure in November.

The unanimous vote took place during a special noon meeting when trustees also had the option to go for a $25.75 million-per-year, two-year levy amount but chose solidarity over a split vote.

“I think we can really come together and stand behind the decision that we collectively made today," Chair Rebecca Smith said after the meeting. "It shows the story of how we as a district are moving forward together with strength and unity. It illustrates, hopefully, to our community, from the top down, that we are unified in the direction that we as a district are moving.”

If approved by voters Nov. 5, the $25 million levy will replace the current $25 million levy that expires at the end of the 2024-25 school year. The levy rate for taxpayers is not expected to increase. The estimated average annual cost to taxpayers is about $93 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current market conditions.    

The levy decision was imminent due to Idaho lawmakers removing two school levy election days from the calendar in the past two legislative sessions. School districts now only have November and May to run levy elections. 

“We need to take advantage of the options that are available to us,” Smith said, “so the timing is now.”

By selecting a levy option that replaces rather than increases funding, Coeur d'Alene School District leaders and trustees will have to balance the operating budget by cutting $750,000 each year for two years. Superintendent Shon Hocker said that's equivalent of about 10 teachers' salaries.

"It does matter," he said. "If inflation is 2-3-4% each of those years, then we will be needing to fine tune more," he said. "You have fine-tuned a lot this last year, closed a school, reduced significant services across the board in lots of tough areas."

Hocker said it is asked, '"If you have less kids, why aren't we having less of a levy amount?"

"It's complicated because I think we forget that just a couple years ago the state changed funding to attendance, and that's essentially a 6-9% cut right there," he said. "You're never going to have 100% attendance in anything you do. Even though the state may fund something for 'x,' you're going to get 91, 92% of that if that is your attendance average for the year. That's where we're at today."

The district's supplemental levy funds about 26% of its operating budget. About 65% of funding comes from the state and 10% comes from federal grants.

Wednesday's decision follows several months of difficult budgetary decisions, including staff reductions and closing an elementary school, brought about by a $6 million shortfall the district had to balance earlier this year. Factors that contributed to that shortfall included declining enrollment, a change in the state's school funding formula and an increase in special education expenditures.

"Although we've definitely tightened our belt with that $6 million, we still have more (full-time employees) than what the state funds, and that's what the levy covers," Executive Director of Finance Shannon Johnston said as she presented to the board.

The board's discussion of the topic was initially split. Trustee Allie Anderton and Vice Chair Lesli Bjerke resisted considering the $25.75 million option — which was higher to account for inflation in the next three years — as Trustees Heather Tenbrink and Jimmy McAndrew expressed opinions about why they would be in favor of it.

"For me personally, I am more comfortable keeping the status quo," Bjerke said. "The trend across the country is declining enrollment. I don't know how long that's going to keep for, but I don't think it's going to end this year, and it does seem like the past couple of years the state has changed some of their funding and we have gotten more even though attendance is down."

McAndrew said he experienced post-traumatic stress disorder after the extensive budget cuts.

"I've been suffering that and living with it for a very long time," he said. "Closing Borah was a nightmare for so many people. If we could have gotten away with not doing that, I think we all wished that there was a way."

He said for the morality of the district and the teachers who are reporting back to school next week, he said he'd like to avoid making any further cuts.

"But I want to get this levy passed, so I'm torn because I think it's an easier sell rather than increasing taxes even a dime," McAndrew said.

Smith shared with her colleagues the importance of making the decision together "and walking out of here united."

The Coeur d'Alene School District will soon share dates when trustees will be out in the community to answer levy questions and engage in dialogue with constituents.

Beginning the week of Sept. 9, the district will provide information on a dedicated levy page of the district’s website, cdaschools.org. Email trustees@cdaschools.org to connect with trustees.

    Smith