(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake school board voted unanimously Monday evening to renew the district’s Instructional Support levy another five years. The current levy runs out at the end of the 2003-2004 school year. The new levy is to run from the 2004-2005 school year to the 2008-2009 school year.
School board President Craig Newell says without the levy, the district would have to cut more than 524-thousand dollars in programs and staff in the 2004-2005 school year alone.
The board’s vote followed a public hearing. John Shanafeld, President of the Dickinson County Taxpayers Association, said his group is in favor of the levy being renewed, as long as the district holds the line on other areas of its budget. Shanafeld says the amount of money the district takes in with the levy should decrease over time to reflect a declining enrollment.
There’s a possibility the board’s action could be challenged by a petition calling for a public vote, which would require a 50 percent approval. A publicly voted levy could be in effect anywhere from five to 10 years. A petition calling for a public election would have to be filed within 28 days of the board’s action, or by February 3rd.
