The proposed continuing levy is NOT a new levy. It will simply continue the levies that voters in the Lake Pend Oreille School District have approved every 2 years for the past 20 years. This measure will eliminate the need for a new vote every other year.
The fact is, with Idaho state funding next to last in the entire nation, school districts across the state must pass levies to fund their operations. The levy funds essential operations in our district – which is why it is so important to continue it, as this ballot measure proposes.
The current two-year levy of $12.7 million in 2020 and $12.7 million in 2021 funds the following:
- One-third of ALL district staff; approximately 300 full-time and part-time staff positions
- Highly effective personnel! Great teachers and staff are essential to provide a good education for our kids, and the funding the levy provides has helped us become at least regionally competitive in Idaho in their compensation
- Supports sound class sizes and secondary electives
- ALL academic and athletic extracurricular activities
- Technology and all curricular materials, professional development
- It enables us to keep open our rural schools that realistically we would be forced to consolidate should the levy ever fail to pass.
Levy Facts:
- This proposed continuing levy is NOT a new levy. Rather, it will continue the levies that voters have approved every 2 years for the past 20 years. This measure will simply eliminate the need for a new vote every other year.
- The levy now constitutes 35% of the district budget. The levy is a large, crucial part of the district’s budget. Check the line items it supports in the list above.
- Funding from state revenue does not cover all school needs: 83% of Idaho districts currently have levies.
- LPOSD’s school tax rate is 53 percent below the state average. The truth is, even with the levy our tax burden devoted to schools is low in comparison with other districts around the state.
The levy constitutes such an important part of the school district’s operating budget that if the levy ever failed to pass there will be deep cuts in instructional programs, athletics, activities and operations. This measure will eliminate the uncertainty and provide stability for our schools. Please … vote YES on November 5.