RATHDRUM - The Lakeland Joint School District will not float another plant facility levy in May, but August is a possibility, pending input from voters, staff and the school board.

Friday was the deadline for proposals to be put on the May ballot. District officials said that was too quick of a turnaround to develop a new proposal or decide if there should be one, especially in light of Tuesday's decline from voters on the plant facility levy and not having enough time to get the public's input on a retry.

However, the district will hold public workshops to see whether floating another proposal in August is a good idea. The school board could make a decision in May or June.

"We want to take some time to go back to the community and talk about the need for a plant facility levy and get its recommendation," said Superintendent Mary Ann Ranells.

Voters on Tuesday approved a supplemental levy that's for $4.95 million per year for two years. That money supplements state funding and is used for ongoing district programs. That levy received a 52.2 percent approval and 50 percent plus one vote was needed for it to pass.

However, voters turned down a plant facility levy of $905,000 per year for 10 years. Those funds are used for bus upgrades, building repairs, technology, equipment and classroom furniture.

The plant facility levy received 52.8 percent approval, but 55 percent was needed for it to pass.

District officials say it was the first time in at least 40 years that Lakeland voters turned down a plant facility levy, a sign of the tough economic times. The last plant facility levy, which was floated alone, passed with 90 percent voter approval.

"Passage of the supplemental is huge for us, and we want to make sure that everyone in the community knows that we appreciate that," Ranells said.

"But there's no doubt that we need the plant facility levy desperately as well for the health and welfare of our district. We hate going to patrons and asking them to help us, but that's just the situation as it is in a lot of districts."

Ranells said she would rather let voters decide on the matter than allow needs to escalate in the district, comparing the upkeep of the district's facilities and equipment to owning a home.

She said some voters said they were confused with two levies on the ballot as to how the funds of each would be spent.

"We had some phone calls from folks saying they weren't well-informed," she said. "We need to get back to talking to people and improve communication."

She said she believes having both levies on the ballot hurt the chances of both passing, but both levies were needed and now was the time to float measures that are expiring.

The district needs to replace some buses because it didn't do that this year, the Garwood Elementary parking lot is among those that needs work, roofs need replaced and inside improvements are needed at John Brown Elementary.

Computer upgrades are also needed to match recent bandwidth and Internet speed improvements.

"(Internet improvements) are great until it reaches a teacher's computer that's 10 years old," Ranells said.

A district snow removal truck is 25 years old.

"There's just some things that are needed to do the job, keep kids safe and keep the school facilities in good repair," she said.

If some plant facility funds aren't realized, the district would need to dip into its General Fund next year. Ranells said the district is operating with $4 million less than when she started at the district four years ago.

The district has built two schools since the last plant facility levy was approved 10 years ago.

Ranells said having a levy be for five years instead of 10, proposing a 10-year levy with a different amount, and waiting until next year are among the options that will be discussed.

"We've always felt great support from the community, and I know it wants us to do everything possible to have the best schools we can," she said.