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PRIEST RIVER – Voters will decidedon a one-year $4,648,217 levy for the West Bonner County School District, when they head to the polls Tuesday, May 21. The tax rate is $94.93 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. For example, a home valued at $250,000 after exemptions would pay $237.33 per year.
Prior to 2006, the state of Idaho mandated $3 per $1,000 of value to be levied for schools. In 2006, the legislature passes House Bill 1, which eliminated that maintenance and operations levy. Since then, the district has needed a levy to maintain facilities and programs.
Just more than 30% of the levy will be used for salary and benefits to recruit and retain support staff, totaling $1,423,382.
Salary and benefits for the recruitment and retention of teachers and administrators will make up 27.2% of the levy, totaling $1,262,244.
Nearly 20% of the levy will go toward maintenance of the five schools the district maintains. About $917,000 will be used for roofing, HVAC and boiler, plumbing, purchased services and supplies.
Athletics and co- and extra-curricular activities will be funded with 8.1% of the levy, or $376,500. This includes coaching stipends, music and drama programs, uniforms and football helmets, athletic funds and transportation.
Transportation will use 5.6% of the levy, totally $258,540, for new buses, purchased services, general maintenance and supplies, and salary and benefits.
Health and liability insurance increases will make up 2.4% of the levy, which totals $112,000. Safety and security, including a Student Resource Officer, will cost $72,045, or 1.5% of the levy funds. Nearly 2% of the levy - $86,000 – will go to curricular materials, including adoption of 7-12 grade ELA textbooks.
Finally, 2.2% will pay for child nutrition, totaling $100,000, and .9% will be used for technology, $40,000 for purchased services and repair and replacement of equipment. Purchased services include software licenses and online subscriptions for educational programs.
Polling places include the Blanchard Grange, Blue Lake Grange, Edgemere Grange No. 355, Priest River Lamanna High School, Priest Lake Elementary, Laclede Community Center and Idaho Hill Elementary. All polls close at 6 p.m. To determine where you vote, visit www.voteidaho.gov or call the Bonner County Clerk at 208-265-1432.
