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Increased enrollment keys emergency school levy
The Mountain Home School Board has approved a request for a $437,000 emergency levy to handle an unexpected influx of new students this year.
Unlike the supplemental levy, approved by the voters last year to make up for state funding shortfalls, or bond levies, the emergency levy does not require approval from district taxpayers.
Supt. Tim McMurtrey said the levy, "was put into Idaho Code so that school districts had the funds at the beginning to get the necessary staff and supplies ordered early in September (due to unexpected enrollement increases).
"This has been going on for ages. We just haven't done it since 2003," McMurtrey explained. Historically, the Mountain Home School District has had difficulty estimating the number of students it will have each fall because of the typical summer personnel changes on base.
"I'd like to note that the board chose not to go for the entire amount that they could have requested as they are cognizant of the taxpayers and the possibility of a supplemental levy in the spring," which does require taxpayer approval, McMurtrey said.
"We used to do it often when our enrollment was high -- we just haven't had an influx like this for some time.
"Several of the valley schools have opted to run them as well," McMurtrey said. "I believe Meridian has one for $2.7 million this year because they are up 622 students -- just to put it into perspective."
Once the post-Labor Day enrollment numbers were in the district found that it was up 103 students overall. "Unfortunately," McMurtrey said, "those students are not in one grade level -- but spread throughout the district. "
Idaho Code allows the districts to authorize emergency levies -- when the enrollment is higher than anticipated -- for that year only. "With the emergency levy we were able to reduce class sizes at East Elementary by hiring an additional half-time kindergarten teacher, an additional third-grade teacher and an additional part-time paraprofessional," McMurtrey said.
"We (also) hired an additional second grade teacher at West Elementary and a part-time paraprofessional at the Base Primary School. In addition to those, we will be hiring a one-on-one Special Education paraprofessional for a student entering our district with severe needs."
The emergency levy also will allow the district to purchase the additional textbooks, technology and supplies needed to educate the additional students. "We also realize that there will be more expenses that have not been identified as of yet," he said.
On a typical home of $50,000 taxable value last year the district would collect an estimated $21.30 over the next year.
On a typical farm of $100,000 taxable value the extra taxes are estimated to be $42.60. The amount of dollars to be collected by the levy on a typical business of $200,000 taxable value is estimated to be $85.20.