West Bonner County board approves two-year supplemental levy question after close vote

The West Bonner County School District board voted to place a two-year supplemental levy question on the May 20 ballot that would ask voters for $4,706,881 per year. The motion to run the levy resolution was moved by Board member Paul Turco and seconded by Delbert Pound; the resolution passed by roll-call tally Yea 3, Nay 2.

District presenters Debra Buttrey and Belynda Best recapped the levy proposal and the board discussed outstanding budget items that need clarification before finalizing the ballot language, including professional expenses, facilities needs, proposed 2% staff raises and para-educator (para-pro) staffing costs. The board agreed to hold another special meeting next week to refine those figures and materials for voters.

The board also approved a separate motion, on recommendation of Superintendent Spacek and Director of Finance Kendra Salesky, to retain the law firm Hawley Troxel to draft the supplemental levy ballot language; that motion passed unanimously (5-0). The minutes record the amounts, the two-year duration, the vote tallies and the intent to return with further detail, but they do not identify which board members cast the yea or nay votes on the levy resolution.