The Nampa School District can borrow money to cover its expenses this year and next year as it digs out from a $4.6 million shortfall, a 3rd District Judge ruled Monday afternoon.

Judge George Southworth granted the district’s request for judicial confirmation, which requires that expenses be “ordinary and necessary.”

“We expect we’ll need to borrow to meet our spring cash flow needs – pay our people and our bills – through the end of the year,” district Public Information Officer Allison Westfall said. “That amount has not been determined.”

"Under the plan we’d borrow from future state payments to the district and then from future tax revenue" — such as a supplemental levy, if approved by voters, Westfall said.

The district plans to ask voters to approve a supplemental levy of up to $4.3 million on March 12 to help cover curriculum, maintenance, and material and supply needs.

The district is working to find solutions to a $4.3 million projected budget deficit, reportedly caused by budgeting mistakes over the past two years that grossly overestimated revenue and led the district to spend more than it really had.

The shortfall was discovered in August.

krodine@idahostatesman.com