Post Falls trustees unanimously voted to put a $11.92 million, two-year levy on the May ballot Monday, the Coeur d’Alene Press reported.
District Chief Financial Officer Josh Gittel emphasized that the levy would not increase taxes but would replace an existing levy that is soon to expire.
The maximum tax impact is $61.35 per $100,000 of taxable assessed property value per year. However, because of state property tax relief funds, most homeowners will pay less. The current tax rate on the same levy amount is $44.69 per $100,000, Gittel said, according to The Press.
Superintendent Dena Naccarato has already been out in the community educating them about the levy. Naccarato did 11 levy talks in one week, she told The Press.
The levy will fund:
- Extracurricular activities, including sports
- Safety, security, counseling, nursing and health room aide support services
- The Kootenai Technical Education Campus
- Teacher and support staff salaries
School districts in North Idaho rely more heavily on levies than the rest of the state due in part to their proximity to Washington, which offers higher teacher pay. However, Post Falls bucks this trend. Last year its levy made up 9.1% of its general fund budget, the 35th highest in the state.
Nearby Coeur d’Alene’s levy made up 19.7% of its budget, however, the district has more than 9,500 students compared to Post Fall’s 5,800.
