ST. MARIES - The St. Maries School Board will hold a special meeting tonight to discuss whether it should float another supplemental levy to voters on May 21 after the district's levy proposal failed on Tuesday.

"If the levy does not pass at some point, it will have an unprecedented negative impact on our community's economy, our school district and, most importantly, the students we serve who are the future," said St. Maries Superintendent Joe Kren.

The board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at the district office.

Kren said the board doesn't have to make a decision at the meeting on a possible levy re-try, but the deadline to inform Benewah County of another proposal is March 28. School board trustee elections will also be held on May 21.

Kren said it would be a quick turnaround, considering the board would have to head back to the drawing board and present citizens with possible numbers to gain feedback. But he said the urgency also underscores how critical the levy funding is to the district.

Supplemental funds account for 26 percent of the district's General Fund budget and, if the district doesn't have such funds to come in, Kren said $1.8 million in cuts would need to be made. Those cuts would be on top of the $204,300 the board sliced from its upcoming budget proposal before Tuesday's levy was floated.

If a levy doesn't pass, Kren said programs would have to be cut.

The district has made $1.6 million in reductions in the past six years due to decreased state and federal funding.

Tuesday's levy proposal received 48.38 percent approval. Fifty percent plus one vote was needed for the levy to pass.

The proposal was for $1.8 million each year for the next two years. It would have cost the owner of a $100,000 home with a homeowner's exemption $41 per year.

"All we were asking for was to balance the budget," Kren said. "We weren't looking to expand programs and increase personnel or salaries."

St. Maries' supplemental levy of $1.6 million per year two years ago narrowly passed.

Kren declined to comment on the likelihood of the board floating another levy to voters in May.

"The board is well-informed (about the district's financial situation)," he said. "They had three and a half hours worth of a debate - after six previous meetings - before they set (Tuesday's) levy. They will take a look at everything. I have a lot of faith in them making a strong decision."