West Bonner library levy passes by six votes

PRIEST RIVER — Voters passed two local ballot measures Nov. 8. The West Bonner Library District’s plant utilities levy passed, 1,769 to 1,435, surpassing the critical 55 percent threshold needed for passage by 0.2 percent, or six votes. The West Pend Oreille Fire District’s $500,000 bond needed a 66.67 percent two-thirds majority. It passed with 69 percent, 1,561 to 697.

The library levy was designed to fund expansion of the Priest River library branch, by replacing a 1960 single-wide trailer attached to the north side of the building with a 3600-square-foot addition.

The levy will also provide for a larger, permanent structure for the Blanchard library branch and cease spending $900 monthly in rent for the 1992 modular that was leased years ago as a temporary facility.

The levy will provide $267,000 per year to the library district for three years. According to library trustees, the average cost for a house worth $100,000 after exemptions will be $44 per year, or $3.74 per month. The library district had previously proposed building bonds, which need a two-thirds, 66 percent supermajority to pass. While netting more than 50 percent, the building bond campaigns had not met the two-thirds threshold.

The fire district bond simply granted permission for the fire commissioners to move forward with a $500,000 USDA bond at no cost to local taxpayers. T

he bond will help to complete Station 3 located at Old Priest River Road and to build Station 4 at East River Road. The district had run the bond in the May elections alongside a levy that would have cost residents additional taxes. Commissioners plan on proposing the levy again in the future.