School levies set to decrease in Libby

Libby Public Schools is expecting a significant change in its levies next year. But breaking with recent history the shift will result in a reduction, rather than a bump, in taxes.

The dip is expected to translate to a net $161.56 decrease in property taxes for residents who own a $200,000 home. Those who own a $100,000 home are likely to see net savings of $80.78 next year.

During a March 8 school board meeting, Leslie Forster, district clerk, said the estimated decrease comes from the end of a five-year building reserve levy. The $820,000 the district received each year from this fund alone would yield an $81.78 tax saving for residents with a $100,000 home had other expenses not increased.

Lincoln County voters approved the $4.1 million levy in 2016. At the time, former Superintendent Craig Barringer told The Western News the funds would go exclusively to building repair and maintenance costs.

“We’re not at the crisis stage yet but we will be soon, especially in the area of roofs and parking lots,” he said.

Before seeking to raise the levy, the district put together a facilities committee to assess Libby School’s infrastructure. During a March 10 interview, Forster said the district solicited community input on how the funds from the levy should be spent.

The estimated cost to repair all the defects on the committee's list totaled $4.347 million. The largest expenses were roofs for the elementary school and the middle high school, which reached more than $1.5 million. The roof for Central School would cost another $102,400. Repairs to floors, sidewalks and parking lots were also high on the committee’s list.

While the levy went a long way in addressing the infrastructure deficiencies, Forster said maintenance costs are inescapable. As old structures continue to age, new repairs manifest themselves every year.

Superintendent Ron Goodman said incoming coronavirus relief funds would likely be a boon for the district’s infrastructure needs. As part of the second Elementary Secondary School Emergency Relief fund, Libby Schools will soon receive more than $1.6 million. Goodman said during the board meeting that a third iteration of the ESSER fund, recently approved by the U.S. Senate as part of the American Rescue Plan, would likely result in another large sum for the district.

Goodman said the federal money, which is funneled through the Montana Office of Public Instruction, comes with strings attached. Nevertheless, the superintendent said the district could use the funds to repair roofs and improve air quality systems in schools.

Taxpayers also will benefit from a reduction in the district’s tuition levy. Forster said the district used this fund to help pay tuition for students with special needs. The dip in the levy this year is due to an over levy from last year. The estimated $30,000 drop in revenue for the district from this fund will result in a $2.99 tax saving for residents with a $100,000 home.

The district only anticipates increasing one levy, its transportation fund, next year. Forster said this bump owed to a hike in the district’s bus contract and an estimated fuel cost increase. The district is allowed to increase this fund by a maximum of 5 percent each year. The additional $40,000 the district expects to receive from the levy will translate to a $3.99 rise in property taxes for residents with a $100,000 home.