Post Falls Levy

Sat., March 13, 1999

Alan White

Is the Post Falls School District justified in asking taxpayers to pass another two-year supplemental levy of $700,000 each year?

I say no.

The first item of concern is $200,000 each year to pay for a new heating system in the existing high school.

While granting the need for this, the method of payment is highly questionable. The total cost will be $800,000, but paying Avista on the installment plan through supplemental levies over the next five years will cost almost an additional $200,000, according to Sid Armstrong, business manager for the school district.

Now, the district’s 1998 budget report shows an ending fund balance of $2,125,526. Why not use $800,000 of this reserve fund to pay for the heating system and save $20,000 in interest?

Included in the $700,000 levy is $150,000 for textbooks, $260,000 for facility maintenance projects, and $90,000 for buses (total: $500,000).

Considering that there was no increase in enrollment this year, while there was a $2.5 million budget increase over last year, it seems that there is more than enough money in the maintenance and operation budget to cover the cost of these “extra” items. The M&O budget is supposed to cover textbooks and maintenance.

We, the local taxpayers, paid additional taxes of $1,661,000 last year.

If you are beginning to feel like a cash cow, it is time to demand accountability from the school district.

Until we see better management of the funds in hand, I believe it is time to end these yearly supplemental levies.

For opposing view see same headline under byline Diane Zemke

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