Sound Measures Deserve Support

Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County officials have done a good job of holding the line on property taxes. But that’s no longer possible this year. The county must expand its jail.

After eight years without a tax increase, the city of Coeur d’Alene needs a 6 percent budget hike to handle the growing demand for services.

On Tuesday, the Coeur d’Alene School District will ask patrons to approve a $3.4 million supplemental levy per year for the next two years, an increase of 14 percent over the current levy.

Recently, we endorsed the county’s push to add half a cent to Idaho’s 5 percent sales tax as the best alternative to pay for the jail work. The matter will go before voters May 25. Also, we believe Coeur d’Alene has earned the right to ask for an increase because it has been a good steward of the public’s money throughout this decade.

Additionally, the school district has shown good stewardship by keeping its supplemental levy the same for four years, despite a 9.6 percent enrollment hike. It, too, needs an increase to keep from falling behind in the services it provides. The Idaho Spokesman-Review urges Coeur d’Alene voters to continue their impressive support for schools by backing the levy Tuesday. If it passes, the property tax increase will be negligible, about $10.50 annually for the owner of a $100,000 home with an Idaho homeowner’s exemption. Revenues would pay for more teacher specialists, increase salaries, buy new curriculum materials, better fund afterschool activities and pay for new equipment. They also would fund maintenance, groundskeeping and an increase in central office staff.

“It’s not going to do it all,” Superintendent David Rawls said. “But it certainly helps.”

The district has come a long way since 1989, when Coeur d’Alene High used portables to end double shifting. In 1990, 61 percent of the voters approved an $8 million plant facilities levy to build two elementary schools. In 1992, 78 percent backed a $16.9 million bond to build Lake City High. In 1996, 62 percent OK’d a $9.5 million supplemental levy to build a third middle school. Last year, 77.6 percent supported a $19.8 million levy to fund major renovations to Coeur d’Alene High, remodel Dalton Gardens Elementary and build another elementary.

Those four votes have made the Coeur d’Alene district one of Idaho’s best. The supplemental levy will help keep it that way.