Some question levy's timing

SANDPOINT - Several people have questioned why Lake Pend Oreille School District did not hold a plant facility levy and trustee election on same day as the Idaho primary.

The answer lies in the rules set by Idaho Code and fiscal responsibility, said LPOSD business manager Lisa Hals.

The school district elections took place on May 20, while the primary took place a week later.

Idaho Code requires school districts to hold trustee elections on the third Tuesday of May, while the state's primary was set for the fourth Tuesday.

The district chose not only to save money by combining both of its elections, but also needed to adhere to that schedule because Idaho Code requires school districts to adopt their budgets no later than 28 days prior to their annual meetings.

“Running elections is expensive,” Hals wrote in an e-mail. “Running a trustee election on May 20th and on potentially another date for the plant levy is not a financially responsible use of Idaho taxpayer dollars.”

The LPOSD annual budget hearing is slated for June 10 - a date established more than a year ago when the district approved its yearly calendar.

The budget also must be given public notice twice no less than 10 days prior to the public hearing, said Hals. The budget appeared in the Bonner County Daily Bee's legal notices on May 27 and June 4.

The levy must be included in that budget.