RATHDRUM - The Lakeland Joint School District will float two levy proposals to voters on Tuesday.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The supplemental levy, which would support maintenance and operations of the district, is for $4.95 million per year for two years. A simple majority - 50 percent plus one vote - is needed for the proposal to pass.

The plant facility levy, used to help fund building repairs, buildings, equipment, buses and classroom furniture, is for $905,000 per year for 10 years. A vote of at least 55 percent approval is needed for the measure to pass.

"Without a supplemental levy, the Lakeland School District would need to implement draconian cuts across all programs," said Tom Taggart, the district's finance director.

If the supplemental passes, it would mean a $62.31 per year tax increase from the current levy for the owner of a $150,000 home.

If the plant facility levy is OK'd, that would mean an $11.92 per year increase from the current levy for the average homeowner.

However, since the district recently paid off some bonds and the levy for the Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC), a technical-professional school being built in Rathdrum, expires after this year, the average homowner will pay about $10 less (3.5 percent) per year in school taxes overall than the current year even if both levies pass.

"With approval of the levy, we would still be spending slightly less per student than we were four years ago," Taggart said. "We feel we should give our patrons the opportunity to provide the support necessary to continue doing the job we have been doing."

The supplemental would replace an existing levy of $3.25 million per year for two years that is expiring this year.

Since 2008, Lakeland seen a reduction in state funding of an estimated $766 per student, Taggart said. The total is in excess of $4 million per year.

"This amount doesn't factor in the reductions and/or elimination of other state and federal funds," Taggart said. "We are not funding any new programs, just trying to continue providing a high quality education to our students."

Most school districts rely on supplemental levies for their budgets. Lakeland voters approved such measures in 2008 and 2010.

The plant facility levy would replace the current levy of $575,000 per year. Taggart said the increase is needed due to the district having more buildings than 10 years ago and the need to keep up with technology.

Sample ballots for the levy proposals and precinct numbers and locations were published in the Legals section of The Press on Thursday.

Each voter must go to their designated poll assigned to their precinct. They can't just vote at any location.

Polls are at the Spirit Lake Community Center, Timberlake High School, Athol Community Center, Bayview Community Center, Twin Lakes Elementary, Garwood Elementary, the Hauser fire station, Betty Kiefer Elementary, John Brown Elementary, Hayden Lake Friends Church and Atlas Elementary.

Idaho allows for voter registration on the day of the vote. Those wanting to register must show identification and proof of residency.

The Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls districts ran supplemental levies last year, so they won't have votes this year.

For more information, call the county Elections Department at 446-1030 or visit www.kcgov.us/elections/.