County's homeowners can't afford any more taxes

As a homeowner I am tired of the school district’s seeming absence of concern for the working person. I pay homeowner’s taxes each year and the largest percentage goes to the LPOSD, and that’s OK with me, though I never had children.

However, the school district is not satisfied staying within its projected budget. Land and homeowners are currently paying for an existing levy, but the LPOSD wants more. They want $55,100,000 more. The biggest reason and concern according to Kendon Perry, a financial advisor for Farm Bureau Insurance who is serving on the Facilities Planning Committee, is the problem of air quality. Saying that the design we now have does not bring in enough fresh air, and if we build a new school the children’s academic level will improve by six percent. Additionally, according to them the snow load regarding the roof is not to current snow load design and the “bones” of the buildings are not designed well.

So of course remodeling won’t do, only a new school. Did I say school as in singular? Excuse me, not one, not two, but they say we need three new schools with track and field and all the amenities. I can’t help but wonder if Mr. Stidwell is looking down on us, shouting, “you want better air quality, Open a window.”

In 2008, when the worst recession since the Great Depression hit our country, many of us wondered how we would survive with lost jobs, stagnate wages and fixed incomes. I was appalled that the LPOSD had no problem asking for and obtained a bond levy because they claimed the infrastructure of the schools were at risk. Land and homeowners have paid for the school’s latest technology and poured tens of thousand of dollars into its structures, all to better help the children achieve high academic standards which they have done.

LPOSD has not sufficiently proven the inadequacies and best solutions to justify spending such a large amount of money. The school district is not being reasonable and its thirst for levy dollars is unquenchable. The LPOSD seems to come before the taxpayers with confidence knowing that it will cost a large percentage of voters nothing. Only land and homeowners are billed for the $55.1 million. Please explain to me how this is that fair and equitable? It may be debated that property owners may pass the cost on to tenants, however, levy dollars are only collected from land and homeowners and let us not forget they are still collecting on an existing levy.

Vote no on Aug. 30. Land and homeowners (some on fixed incomes) can’t afford any more taxes. Vote no on the levy.

JERRY J. ZAPATA

Sandpoint