Anselmo details levy requests

PRIEST RIVER — School districts across the state are struggling with funding shortfalls, and the West Bonner County School District is no exception.

For that reason, the district relies on taxpayer support for 26 percent of its operating budget each year.

“What was once supplemental is now essential funding,” said WBCSD Superintendent Paul Anselmo during the Feb. 20 school board meeting.

The district is asking voters to approve a two-year, $6 million supplemental levy — $3 million per year. The levy will replace the current levy of the same amount that expires in June. If the two-year levy passes, while the requested amount is the same, Anselmo said the levy rates for taxpayers will actually go down due to the sale of lots at Priest Lake. The rates have been reduced to $1.47 per $1,000 of assessed property value, down from $1.76 previous.

There will be a second question on the ballot this year as well, asking voters to approve a permanent supplemental override. The permanent override would allow the district to levy up to $3 million each year without having to ask voters to approve it every two years.

School districts in Idaho are eligible for the override after seven consecutive years of voter-approved levies that account for more than 20 percent of the district’s general fund. If the permanent override is approved, the district can not levy more than $3 million in future years, though they can levy less if state funding increases. If the district ever chooses to levy more than $3 million, they will have to take it back to the voters.

The levy covers areas such as the district’s general fund shortfall of $2,128,737 per year, as well as class fees, the school resource officer, technology supplies, library and school funds, and curriculum among others. Anselmo detailed some of the areas where the district finds itself short of state funding each year, such as transportation, which is reimbursed by the state at 50 to 85 percent of expenses. And for maintenance of facilities, he said, the lottery dollars from the state provided $67,416 to the district in the 2017-2018 school year.

“The state has a formula — based on the age of your buildings, size of your buildings — what you are required to spend yearly,” Anselmo said. “We are required to spend $378,971, so about a $310,000 shortfall of what we are given to what we are required to spend by law.”

Special education reimbursement caps at 6 percent at the elementary level, and 5.5 percent for secondary levels, Anselmo said, which leaves the district with a shortfall of approximately $500,000. The levy is also needed to fill the gap for classified salaries, as the district is reimbursed $1 for every $2.70 spent. Unfunded health care costs are rising as well, he said, projecting costs at $800,000 for the 2019-2020 school year.

Also, Anselmo said, while the state is looking at increasing the minimum for teacher salaries to $40,000, they have yet to increase the maximum of $50,000. The district’s top-tier teachers make $58,265, leaving a deficit of more than $8,000 per teacher.

“We currently have 28 of them, so we have some great veteran teachers here in our district,” Anselmo said. “But again, a shortfall of what we are funded versus what it actually is.”

Anselmo is hosting a series of meetings on the levy, with a town hall meeting scheduled for 5 p.m., March 6, in the Priest River Junior High auditorium. A “coffee with the superintendent” event will be held from 5-6 p.m., March 7, at Infinity Cafe, with casual conversation regarding the levy.

A meeting will also be held today at the Priest Lake Public Library from 3-4 p.m. Anselmo and WBCSD trustee Margaret Hall will be on hand to provide information and answer any questions. Refreshments will be provided.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.