District OKs $13.6 million levy vote

KOOTENAI -- After months of discussion, the Lake Pend Oreille School Board voted for an increased supplemetal levy of more than $13.6 million Tuesday.

The $13,646,624 million levy, is the middle-of-the-road option under consideration by trustees. The levy would cover 2011-2012 school years, slated for the 2011 and 2012 school years, represents an increase of about $2.7 million from the previous two-year total of $10,950,000.

The Lake Pend Oreille School District was forced to ask voters to foot the rest of the district’s bill due to decreased state funding of about $2 million, vanishing federal stimulus support and devalution of district property.

The supplemental levy plan will wind up on voter ballets for approval on March 8.

The option was one of three under review by the district. Options not selected by the board were a flat option of $12,878,000, which would have limited property tax increases but resulted in extensive cutbacks; and $14,115,328 option, which would have further salvages services beyond the plan selected by the board.