Coeur d'Alene Public Schools Trustees vote unanimously to keep levy flat at its current cost

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- The Board of Trustees for Coeur d'Alene Public Schools voted for status quo across the board on a levy renewal to property owners.

The options on the table were keeping the levy flat at $25 million, or increase it by 3%, or $750,000, which amounts to an average cost of about $11 per year more for the next two years.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Two different tax levy plans up for consideration at Coeur d'Alene School Board Special Meeting

At the start of the special meeting Wednesday afternoon, Troy McCollum, who lives in Coeur d'Alene, said during public comment that smaller enrollment, an increase in the aging population and inflation were issues that trustees should've seen coming.

"Enrollment was forecast to continue to go down for quite some time. So, in the last few years, any surprise within this room doesn't float," McCollum said. He was the only resident who spoke during public comment.

The board has had to make deep cuts to the district in recent years, including closing Borah Elementary , at a time when enrollment is down. Inflation, though, has gone up significantly in recent years, so services like health care and advancement programs have been dropped to make up for the shortfall.

"If inflation is two, three, four percent each of those years, then we will be needing to fine-tune more, and we have- you have fine-tuned a lot this last year," Dr. Shon Hocker, Coeur d'Alene Public Schools Superintendent said at the meeting Wednesday.

The trustees seemed torn Wednesday about whether or not to ask taxpayers for more money than they've already been paying.

"I am more comfortable keeping it status quo. The trend across the country is declining enrollment. I don't know how long that's going to keep for, but I don't think it's going to end this year," Vice Chair Leslie Bjerke said.

"To continue to provide the same level of service, I do think we need that extra 0.75%," Trustee Heather Tenbrink countered.

Trustee Jimmy McAndrew said he got PTSD from cutting funding, and that closing Borah Elementary was a nightmare for some families.

"For the morality of this district and all these teachers that are, you know, reporting back to school this next week, I'd really like to avoid cutting anything further.

We've cut health services. I'm a big proponent of extracurriculars for kids. It keeps them busy, helps out families dramatically, I think school safety is a non-negotiable," McAndrew said.

Keeping the levy the same amount means the board will have to find ways to cut $750,000 for each of the next two years.

Superintendent Dr. Hocker was optimistic about property tax levels recovering in the next couple of years, even suggesting if those taxes go down, trustees won't have to ask taxpayers for the full $25 million that the board approved Wednesday. It could be less.

"If state funding improves and property tax relief comes in at numbers that we think it might come in, you won't get to levy that much. You won't have to levy that much, and I think that the time that's going to happen will be a big deal to our community," Dr. Hocker said.

Most school districts have a decent idea of actual enrollment at the end of the first week of school. Funding from the state is dependent upon not only enrollment, but attendance, as well.

If voters approve the levy again, changes to tax amounts start in the 2025 tax year.

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