WBCSD looking to renew levy

The West Bonner County School District is asking for voters to renew a supplemental levy that will be appearing on March 9 ballots.

The levy, which maintains the current $1.47 mill rate per $1,000 of assessed property value, is responsible for 25% of the district’s budget, said Superintendent Paul Anselmo.

Although the mill rate has not increased, should the levy pass the district will receive roughly $3.4 million instead of $3 million as they did previously due to an increase in the region’s property values.

Roughly 80% of school districts run a levy in the state of Idaho, Anselmo said.

“It would probably be more but some [districts] have fewer than 10 kids,” he said.

Although the state provides funding for schools, it’s not enough to maintain all of the district’s necessary operations, said business manager Jennifer Anselmo. The state generally provides less than $400,000 for the district’s transportation, but it costs the district $700,000 to cover its780 square miles.

Other necessities funded in part by the levy are building maintenance and salaries for classified employees, Paul Anselmo said.

In special education, the state provides funding for up to 6% of a school’s population at the elementary level and 5.5% at the secondary level, Paul Anselmo said. Within the district, approximately 12% of students are in special education.

“[The state] will acknowledge,” Paul Anselmo said, “for every dollar they give us we spend $2.70.”

To pass, the levy will need a simple majority, Jenner Anselmo said. Over the years, the district has usually been able to pass a levy, although not always with wide margins.

Paul Anselmo said he realizes that many people are on fixed incomes, however, paying it forward to children in the community helps everyone.

“A lot of people, the biggest investment they have is their house,” he said. “Strong schools create strong communities, and that brings everybody’s property values.”

The West Bonner County School District also has the lowest mill rate in the region at $1.47, Anselmo said. By comparison, several other districts in the region have mill rates around $2.

More information about the levy is available at sd83.org/levy_facts, and ballots are due on or before March 9. The last day to register for an absentee ballot is Feb. 26. Voters can register for the absentee ballot at idahovotes.gov/absentee-voter-information.