Libby schools ask taxpayers for permanent tax levy increase to raise funds
by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
April 9, 2013
There will be a levy request on the May 7th School Board Election Ballot.
The ballot question will ask to allow School District Four to increase local taxes to raise $350,000 for operations and maintenance for 2013-2014 against a shortfall of $700,000. If it passes, taxes on a home with a market value of $100,000 will increase about $69 a year. Market value is half of the property's appraised value with the county.
The levy is permanent.
State school funding is based on the number of students enrolled in a school district. Libby lost 73 students in 2012 and 800 since 1998, according to the group proposing the levy, Citizens Promoting Libby Schools. Each elementary student is worth $4800 and each high school student $6400 in State funding.
Without the passage of the levy, Citizens Promoting Libby Schools says the District will not have the resources to support educational programs at the current level. The Board is requesting an amount to reduce budget cuts, but an additional $55,000 will be cut from activities, extended days will be reduced, and teachers have requested a base salary freeze. The largest single expense is staff which comprises 85% of the District budget. In addition, an overall 8 to 10 staff will need to be eliminated.
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By Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net, www.klcb-ktny.com.
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