Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bonner Residents To Vote On Levies In 23 Years, Voters Have Passed Only 2 Levies

Bonner County residents are a little stingy when it comes to cracking open their wallets for the school district.

In the past 23 years, residents have passed only two levies. School district officials said that lack of support is taking its toll on education here. Buildings are in disrepair, textbooks are outdated and a new elementary school is needed to ease overcrowding.

That’s why the district is going to voters April 23 for a two-year, $5.6 million levy.

“We are looking at an exceeding tight budget next year and this levy is critical,” said Superintendent Max Harrell. “We need to have the funds if we are going to be about the business of educating children and paying our bills.”

Part of the problem for the district is a new state funding formula for education. It will short the district about $1 million next year.

Even though Bonner County has the fifth highest property-value assessments in the state, it is not fifth in funding education. In fact, the district ranks 101st out of 112 school districts in funding per student.

“Most other districts in the state have passed levies to supplement the state allocation,” Harrell said. “But here residents have historically opposed levies for schools and nearly everything else. We need that change so we can address the fundamental problem - the tax structure for public education in this state.”

It won’t be easy. Opposition to the levy already has surfaced with Robert McFarland leading the charge.

McFarland is head of the Bonner County Property Tax Watchdog Committee. The group fought a school levy last year, a library levy that failed in February and plans to oppose a jail levy in May.

“We are never going to get property tax relief until we vote these levies down and let the state know we are serious,” McFarland said. “We are sending a message that property owners are sick and tired of picking up the tab and Boise needs to do something about it.”

McFarland’s group has been calling residents urging them to vote against the levy. The group has accused the district of poorly managing its money, and says the bottom line is residents can’t afford a $5.6 million bill.

School district business manager Steve Battenschlag said McFarland’s group is spreading lies.

“If people truly don’t have the money I can understand that, but there is no mismanagement going on,” he said.

For the first time in three years, the district has a balanced budget, after wiping out a deficit that topped $1 million last year.

“That is a huge step,” Battenschlag said. “If we don’t have to worry about paying off a deficit, we can now use that money for education programs.”

Much of the levy is intended to do just that. It is broken into two parts so voters can pick and choose between projects. The first part includes $1 million to build Kootenai Elementary School.< The school was part of a levy package passed in 1987 that set aside $1.5 million for the project. That money will build only a four-room school.

The additional $1 million will make it a fully furnished eight-room school and help ease crowding at other elementary schools.

The second portion of the levy is for $4.6 million. It will buy classroom supplies, books, update the curriculum, pay for 10 new buses and repair dilapidated schools. None of the money will go toward salaries.

McFarland still is not satisfied. He said there is no reason to build Kootenai School. The money should pay for additions at existing schools. Battenschlag said that isn’t possible. Voters gave the district the earlier levy money solely for Kootenai School and by law that is where it must be spent.

Levy opponents also have accused the district of axing a polling place in Laclede where voters have traditionally rejected levies. Last year, 57 people cast ballots there, but only five supported a $3 million school levy.

District officials said dropping Laclede was an oversight and two other polling places actually were added to the list.

Polling hours also were extended from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The total levy package will cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $125 a year.

The levy needs a simple majority of votes to pass.

It has been endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce and Sandpoint Unlimited, a group of business owners.

With or without the levy, Harrell said the school board will be eyeing cuts next year to keep a balanced budget.

“We need this levy to keep our doors open, but we are still going to be looking at a long list of things that we are not required to provide,” he said.

Some of those items could include remedial programs for math and reading, the kindergarten program, bus routes and extra-curricular activities.

“What it gets down to is we don’t want to tax people out of their homes, but we want to educate our kids,” Battenschlag said.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: LEVY The $5.6 million levy package will cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $125 a year. The levy needs a simple majority of votes to pass.

This sidebar appeared with the story: LEVY The $5.6 million levy package will cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $125 a year. The levy needs a simple majority of votes to pass.