Levy requests back before voters

Voters in parts of Stevens County are being asked next week to pass school levies for some of their operating costs, and Deer Park School District, which also contains parts of Spokane County, is seeking approval of a $24 million bond issue.

Some of the districts have struggled at the ballot box in recent years.

The Colville School District failed twice to pass a levy in 2006 – the second time by 61 votes – and had to cut about $900,000 from its budget, Superintendent Ken Emmil said.

Orders from the school board were to absorb that reduction with as little negative impact as possible, he said. The district delayed purchasing some materials, instituted a “pay to participate” system for extracurricular activities and received some donations from local businesses.

This year the levy was set after discussions with community groups, nearly $2 million a year for three years. That’s lower than the amount sought in 2006, Emmil said.

“It’s always a hard, contested issue,” he said.

Kettle Falls School District is seeking to replace its expiring levy and raise $892,000 per year for the next four years. Passing a levy in 2005 took two tries, with the last attempt passing by just three votes, Superintendent Greg Goodnight said.

“It’s a stay-the-course levy,” Goodnight said. A four-year levy is unusual, he said, but the board is trying to give the school district and the taxpayers more stability.

Northport School District hasn’t had a problem passing a levy for about eight years, Superintendent Patsy Guglielmino said. Levies require at least a 60 percent supermajority to be approved, and Northport has been a few percentage points above that, although in a district with 1025 voters, that’s not much of a cushion, she said.

Northport is asking voters for $115,000 next year and the same amount in 2009.

Deer Park School District is taking a third run at a $24 million bond issue to modernize its high school, a project that includes 12 new classrooms, an auxiliary gymnasium and theater.

One previous attempt received 59.97 percent, Superintendent Mick Miller said, failing by just four votes.

This time a committee has developed a more complete plan for the remodeling, Miller said. “We can show the community exactly what it’s going to look like.”

Voters may be asked this fall to change state law and allow levies and bonds to be passed with a simple majority. But even some school officials who struggle with these ballot measures are unsure that’s the right decision for all ballot issues.

“I like the idea of 50 percent (approval) to continue a current levy and 60 percent to raise it,” Goodnight said.

“I don’t have a problem with (60 percent) on bonds that are asking for taxpayers for something new,” said Miller, who noted that bond issues can be collecting from taxpayers for 20 years.

Ballots for the special elections were mailed to all eligible voters in the various districts in January. They must be mailed and postmarked by Tuesday.