School Bonds, Levy On Ballot

Voters in Stevens and Ferry counties face four local ballot propositions Tuesday in addition to a long list of candidates.

The Kettle Falls School District, which includes portions of both counties, is trying again to pass a $425,000 bond measure which failed in May despite 73.7 percent support. The measure fell 41 votes short of the necessary turnout for validation.

Superintendent John Mathis said the “common-sense proposal” hasn’t been altered since the last vote. The six-year bond measure would dovetail with an existing measure for a total estimated cost of 83 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

The money would be used to fix the middle school’s leaky roof, put computer labs in the district’s three schools, improve athletic fields and provide new and replacement equipment including furniture, band instruments and buses.

The Chewelah School District in central Stevens County is proposing a two-year operating levy that would produce $330,000 in 1997 and $347,000 in 1998. The tax rate for both years would be an estimated $1.19 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

Voters in the Ferry County Emergency Medical Services District are being asked to approve an annexation proposal as well as a six-year operating levy of 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

, DataTimes