RATHDRUM, Idaho — The Lakeland School District is asking voters to approve a plant facilities levy that would generate $3 million annually for five years to fund critical infrastructure improvements across its 11 schools.
Voters will decide on the $15 million levy during the May 19 election. If approved, the measure would cost property owners just over $30 per year for every $100,000 of assessed property value. For a home valued at the district average of $550,000, that translates to approximately $166 per year.
The levy would fund a wide range of facility improvements, from HVAC system upgrades and bathroom repairs to asphalt work and the construction of a proper track at Lakeland Middle School.
“Our facilities are aging. Our newest school is about 20 years old. And so, with that, even though we keep up our buildings at a really great level. Maintenance is needed,” said Jake Massey, interim superintendent.
The district covers 385 square miles and serves students across multiple communities. Massey emphasized that the $15 million would address essential infrastructure needs that keep schools safe and functional.
“This covers all of our building repairs, ongoing maintenance, any upkeep that we need from around the district,” Massey said.
A significant portion of the levy would also fund new school buses. Jessica Grantham, the district’s Chief Financial Officer, explained that the current depreciation fund only allows the purchase of one bus per year, which is insufficient for the district’s transportation needs.
“We do have a depreciation fund for buses, but it’s about enough to buy one bus a year. We need more than that to keep our fleet productive. We cover 385 square miles of district with our transportation fleet every day. And so we put a lot of miles on our buses,” Grantham said.
This facilities levy comes one year after voters approved a separate supplemental levy focused on classroom needs. Massey said the timing was intentional to keep tax rates more manageable for residents.
“Last spring was a supplemental levy that directly impacts classrooms. And so that is staffing. That’s programs, that’s teaching and learning materials,” Massey explained. “On the other side, plant facilities levy is all those things that we just talked about. It’s kind of the boring stuff. It’s the stuff that we need to make sure that our district is a safe place for kids, going into the future.”
The district says staggering the levies helps maintain flatter tax rates over time, though some community members have expressed concerns about the tax increase.
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