Post Falls School District to float $5.96M levy in May
The Post Falls School Board unanimously voted on ballot language and an accompanying resolution Monday night as the district prepares to hold a levy election May 20. From left: Trustee Paul Wagner, Chair Sara Rodriguez, Trustee Jake Dawson and Superintendent Dena Naccarato.
DEVIN WEEKS/Press
POST FALLS — Trustees of the Post Falls School Board unanimously voted Monday evening to approve a resolution and ballot language to float a $5,958,551-per-year, two-year replacement supplemental levy May 20.
Chief Financial Officer Josh Gittel told the board during the meeting at River City Middle School that the district's legal team has reviewed the levy information to ensure it aligns with Idaho Code.
On the ballot, voters who reside in the Post Falls School District will see specifically what levy dollars pay for: extracurricular student activities, athletics, safety and security, counseling, nursing, support services, participation in Kootenai Technical Education Campus and funding for staff salaries.
He said the process also requires ballot language to disclose the maximum tax impact.
“Taxpayers will see on the ballot $61.35 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value per year," Gittel said. "However, in our communications, we can share that that might not be what taxpayers will see."
He said for example, right now the district's current levy rate is $44.69 per $100,000 because the state has additional property tax relief funds, which go to pay down bonds and levies.
"We have to disclose on the ballot the maximum amount, so that’s a really difficult thing for a lot of people," Gittel said. "If they’re looking at their tax bills and they calculate it’s close to $44 but then on the ballot it looks like $61.35, it creates a lot of confusion and questions."
Superintendent Dena Naccarato said she has already spent dozens of hours with Post Falls parents and parent-teacher organizations holding Q&A sessions about the upcoming levy election.
“I did 11 levy talks in one week,” she said during a Feb. 4 Press interview.
Today she will be speaking to Prairie View Elementary's parent-teacher organization at 4 p.m. Her next public informational session will be at 6 p.m. March 4 at Post Falls High School, 2832 E. Poleline Ave. Naccarato will speak at the American Legion at 6:30 p.m. March 17 and at the Third Avenue Market Senior Cafe at noon March 21 with more sessions to follow. A virtual town hall will also be held later this spring.
No one gave public comment during the meeting.
Visit pfsd.com for levy details.