Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the Coeur d’Alene Public School District’s two-year supplemental levy of $30.25 million per year. 

"Our community has supported public education for decades, and we take seriously the trust placed in us," said Superintendent Shon Hocker in a statement. "We are committed to using these levy funds responsibly and transparently and to working with our families and community to ensure every student has a place to belong and opportunities to thrive."

The levy received 20,984 yes votes, 58.16%, to 15,096 no votes, 41.84 %. It will replace the current levy of $25 million, and will be in effect from July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2029.  It will amount to an average annual cost of $110 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. 

Leading up to election day, school board trustees held public forums to answer voter questions about the levy, maintaining that the levy was necessary due to increased operating costs. According to the Coeur d’Alene Public Schools website, about 25% of the district’s operating revenue comes from local levy funding. 

Of the total $30.25 million levy, $12.3 million will be allocated for teacher and support staff jobs, $7.1 million for student academic programs such as electives and advance placement classes, $4.3 million for school safety and health programs, $2.4 million for student athletics and extracurriculars, $1.8 million for school operating expenses such as utilities and maintenance, $1.3 million for technology and $1.2 million for classroom learning resources such as textbooks. 

Post Falls School District Levy

Post Falls voters passed a $6.7 million annual replacement supplemental levy on Tuesday, with 10,045 in favor of the levy, while 8,236 voted against it.

The levy will expand funding for salaries, student resources and safety costs. Post Falls School District Superintendent Anna Wilson said state funding does little to offset those costs. 

Wilson said the funds would ensure the School Resource Officer program with the Post Falls Police Department continues. 

The two-year measure replaces the district’s current levy. For a homeowner with a $500,000 house, the estimated annual cost is about $324.50, based on the $64.90 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value listed on the ballot.

Levies in the Kootenai School District, Plummer-Worley Joint School District and St. Maries school district also were approved.

Voters approved the Northern Lakes Fire District two-year $4.5 million temporary levy, with 13,527 yes votes to 5,674 no votes.

The temporary property tax levy rate will increase to $99.26 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, a $5.88 increase from the previous levy’s $93.38 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. 

“The main need for this levy is staffing,” Northern Lakes Fire District Chief Kevin Croffoot said previously.

Spirit Lake voters did not approve a permanent override levy. 

While the majority of votes cast were in favor, the 66.67% majority required was not reached, with 1,058 in favor of the permanent increase, 56.43%, while 817 voted against it.

The current levy gives the district $477,000, while the proposed permanent levy would have increased that to $785,000.