School district, county will lose nearly $1,400 in federal funding

Legislation that provides Boundary County School District with funds to maintain its buildings — including the $21,800 repainting of the middle school that’s under way — has run out with little chance of renewal.

It concerns school and county officials, both of whom have benefited from what’s known as the Secure Rural Schools funding.

The school districts stands to lose $377,000 for maintaining its buildings.

The county is looking at a $900,000 loss to its road and bridge department; that’s 45 to 50 percent of its annual budget.

“We’re going to have to start cutting,” said Jeff Gutshall, superintendent of the road and bridge department. “If fuel goes up anymore, you could see us go back to bare bones. We’re going to have some serious snow on the ground before we plow and there will be a lot less sanding. People will need to be a lot more dependent on themselves in the winter.”

The school district will, however, get relief thanks to legislation sponsored by state Sen. Shawn Keough of Sandpoint and state Rep. George Eskridge of Dover. Gov. Butch Otter authorized the funding.

“I worked with others to put a safety net (in place) for the school portion (of the funding),” Keough said. “It’s on a sliding basis over the next few years to give school districts other sources.”

The school district will get 70 percent of the $377,000 from the state for 2009, 55 percent in 2010, 40 percent in 2011, 25 percent in 2012 and nothing in 20013.

Boundary County School officials may need to consider a tax increase or cutting the budget, said superintendent Dr. Don Bartling.

“The budget is just barely adequate right now,” Bartling said.

Unfortunately, there is no such net for the county.

“We are going to have to scale back on some of the services,” Gutshall said. “We haven’t totally decided yet. We looked at some road improvements that may not be done.”

Receipts from timber sales will apparently substitute the Rural Schools funding. That comes to about $200,000.

The state allows counties to increase property taxes by 3 percent annually. Health care and insurance costs eat that up, Gutshall said.