COEUR d'ALENE - The Coeur d'Alene School District is in the early stages of putting a funding mechanism on the ballot this year, according to Superintendent Hazel Bauman, to pay for much-needed facility improvements in several schools.

It's possible that up to $20 to $40 million could be requested, Bauman stated.

"There are multiple millions of dollars of needs for sure in the school district," said Bauman on Wednesday evening.

The district's Long Range Planning Committee will make a formal recommendation to the trustees on Feb. 6 on the most pressing health and safety improvements, Bauman stated, which will be the basis for how much is requested in a ballot measure.

"The Long Range Planning Committee and the board have to wrestle with how much is the reasonable chunk to bite off this time around," Bauman said.

Many of the district's 17 schools need costly improvements, Bauman said. She preferred not to specify which would be targeted before the LRPC makes a recommendation.

But older schools will surely top the list, she noted, pointing out that many such schools lack proper air conditioning and ventilating systems, have poorly functioning boilers and include 80 to 90-year-old classrooms that are too small.

"When it comes to things like facilities in a school, you're never done," the superintendent said.

The district could pursue a ballot measure in the form of a School Plant Facilities Levy, Bauman said, where taxes are collected and spent each year on specific budgeted items. The district will also consider pursuing a bond, which provides a lump sum up front, with payments spread over time with interest.

"There are pros and cons to each," Bauman said. "The school levy is pay as you go, so no interest, that's always an appealing perspective. But you can't raise very much money, and taxes go up more precipitously, because it's pay as you go."

Until the final figure is tallied, she added, the district won't know how much the measure will cost individual taxpayers.

Trustees will likely decide which measure to put on the ballot by March or April, Bauman said.

An election could occur in August or November.

The school district sent out a newsletter on Wednesday evening outlining the plans.

The district is choosing to pursue a ballot measure now because the Lake City High School bond and the Kootenai Technical Education Campus levy will drop off the tax rolls this year, Bauman said.

"There is an opportunity to be able to improve our facilities and just ask the taxpayers to replace a tax, rather than to add to their tax burden," she said. "We're keenly aware of the economy and people's situations, so to ask for more taxes right now would be irresponsible."

The district has gone through 10 years without a revenue stream to maintain school buildings and infrastructure, according to Bauman. The last two proposed SPFLs in 2008 and 2006 were rejected by voters.

"Good schools and good facilities are something that attract business and industry to our community," Bauman said. "This is an investment in the community."