School districts OK tax levies

Voters in two North Idaho school districts approved levies Tuesday that will maintain their current tax rates.

With Tuesday’s votes, the Post Falls and Lake Pend Oreille districts will receive increases in the amount of taxes they generate. However, because of rising property values and population increases, tax rates will remain level.

Both measures needed a simple majority to pass.

Voters in Post Falls gave 78 percent approval to its levy, which will generate $875,000 a year for two years. The old levy, which will expire this summer, raised $725,000 annually, district Superintendent Jerry Keane said.

The increase will be earmarked for technology improvements and programs designed to help students boost their test scores.

“It’s a very, very good day in the Post Falls School District,” Keane said. “We’ll spend their money wisely.”

Voters in the Lake Pend Oreille School District approved its levy with 60 percent support. The results will allow the district to collect $3.2 million a year for two years – about $200,000 a year more than the levy that expires this summer.

The money will allow the district to continue its current operations and stay on schedule for replacing computers. It also will be used to create new extracurricular activities aimed at academics, Superintendent Mark Berryhill said.

“We’ll be able to continue with the progress we have in place,” said Pend Oreille School Board Chairwoman Vickie Pfeifer. “This will let us keep moving in that forward direction.”