Supplemental Levy Election

Tuesday May 20, 2014

Shelley School

District #60

How many districts around us have supplemental levies?

Questions and Answers

This chart illustrates surrounding school districts that have supplemental levies, with the number of students and the current levy amount in each district.

School District

# of Students

Supplemental Levy

Per Student

Firth 750 $230,000 $307

Aberdeen 779 $675,000 $867

Teton 1,600 $3,100,000 $1,938

Snake River 1,735 $900,000 $519

Fremont 2,309 $1,500,000 $650

Blackfoot 4,282 $1,975,000 $461

Idaho Falls 10,499 $6,800,000 $648

Bonneville 10,834 $3,000,000 $277

Shelley 2,156Proposed Amount

$575,000 $267

Statewide, over three-fourths of Idaho School Districts depend on supplemental levies to compensate in some measure for reduced financial support from the State.

Shelley School District has asked patrons for a supplemental levy only twice (not including this current request) in the past twenty-two years. This reflects the conservative fiscal policies that have been followed to keep the district solvent in very challenging times.With passage of a $575,000 levy,

Shelley School District would still have one of the lowest levy amounts when compared with similar size school districts or, in some cases, significantly smaller school districts in our surrounding area.

What is the question on the ballot?

Patrons of Shelley School District 60 are being asked to vote on a renewal of the supplemental levy in the amount of $575,000 each year for the next 2 years.

This is an increase over the expiring supplemental amount.

What is a supplemental levy?A supplemental levy is a 2-year levy used for the general maintenance and operations of the school district. This would include personnel and student programs.

What margin of approval is required to pass a supplemental

levy?This levy will need a simple majority to pass.

Will my property taxes increase if the supplemental levy is

approved?The tax rate is anticipated to increase by $0.39 per $1,000. The following table shows some examples.

Market ValueTax Increase

Annual Monthly

$120,000 (home) $23.50 $1.95

$200,000 (home) $46 $3.80

Remember the impact of your homeowner’s exemption.

Why does the district need an increase in the supplemental levy

amount?State funding for Shelley School District has declined drastically since 2009 as reflected in the following table.

Fiscal Year

State Payment# of

StudentsState Funding Per Student

2009 $10,134,286 2,136 $4,744.52

2010 $9,948,140 2,165 $4,594.98

2011 $8,948,782 2,164 $4,135.30

2012 $8,427,720 2,151 $3,918.05

2013 $8,939,822 2,157 $4,144.56

2014 $8,906,290 2,156 $4130.93

This is a reduction of $613.59 per student in state funding which has required the passage of a supplemental levy to help maintain the integrity of Shelley’s education system and programs now available.

This year the District will receive $2.4 million less from the State than in FY2009, even though the student population has remained stable.

In 2010 the District made over $300,000 in cuts to programs and reduced personnel costs. These included the loss of the resource officer and mid-day kindergarten busing; cuts in textbooks, technology, athletics, natural helpers, support personnel including aides, and custodians; and reduced hours for aides, reductions in building supply budgets, etc.

The 2012 school year saw a reduction of seven certificated positions which included teachers, a counselor, and an administrative position.

2010-2011 School Year Budget CutsResource Officer 36,400Mid-day Kndgrtn Busing/Star Tutor 54,727Athletics 25,000Red Ribbon, Drug Conference 9,000Natural Helpers 3,000Technology 19,000Textbooks (Curriculum) 20,000Aides 180 days to 169 days 8,000Part time custodians 15,000Christmas gift cards 14,00010% reduction in building budgets 15,000Princ. professional develop. dues 4,00015% reduction special ed supplies 4,200GT (professional develop.) budget 5,000Kindergarten aide 6,668State competition travel 10,000Field trips 20,000504 aide 23,144

Total 292,139

Other Deficit Reductions: Reduce Fund Balance

250,000Pay to Play increase 2,0002% reduction using 3 furlough days

124,500Bus depreciation

114,800Reduce personal days (2 days)

26,000Supplemental levy

250,000

Total 767,300

For 3 of the last 4 years, the school board has had to reduce the district’s Rainy Day Fund to maintain programs and balance the budget, a total reduction of $840,000.

Fiscal Year

Levies Rainy Day Fund

2009 (emergency) $100,245 $920,167

2010 (emergency) $230,000 $982,553

2011 (supplemental) $250,000 $1,340,151

2012 (supplemental) $250,000 $836,134

2013(emergency) $157,000

(supplemental) $400,000$872,184

2014 (supplemental) $400,000 $475,000 - $500,000

In order to maintain the level of programs, class loads, and educational excellence currently in the Shelley School District, an increase in the supplemental levy amount is required.

Failure of the levy would result in drastic cuts in programs and personnel resulting in higher class loads, fewer teachers, and fewer opportunities for students.

Supplemental Levy Election

Tuesday May 20, 2014 8 a.m. to 8

p.m.