St. Maries Sets Election Date For Trimmed-Down School Levy

The St. Maries school board has set a supplemental levy election for May 16.

The amount, $335,000 each year for two years, is $10,000 less than the previous supplemental levy, which retires this year.

The levy represents about 6 percent of the district’s $5.4 million budget. In the 1993-94 school year, the levy comprised almost 10 percent of the budget, said district treasurer Louisa St. John.

“It’s basically an ongoing effort to reduce dependency on the levy,” St. John said of the School Board’s decision to cut the levy amount.

The School Board had put off its decision until Thursday as it mulled over a proposal to create a full-time principal’s position at the Upriver School. The principal there now works part-time. The board tabled that decision, however.

The proposed levy would be used for general school district operations.

The date of the election falls on the same day as school trustee elections.

The Kootenai Joint School Districts is holding a two-year $175,000 per year supplemental levy election that day.

So far, only one trustee race in the St. Maries district is contested.

The polling place for that race is in the school administrative office building. Other polling places for the St. Maries levy election are the Washington Water Power building, the Emida Community Center, Santa Grange Hall, Upriver School, and the Benewah Community Center.

The polls are open from noon to 8 p.m.