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After reading the guest opinion in the Daily Bee (Aug. 21, 2016), I’m wondering if I should be extremely concerned about Bonner County’s part-time residents’ financial well-being. It seems they are being subjected to a property tax, part of which goes to schools, on their second homes, not their permanent residence, many of which are lakefront million dollar homes that they only stay in one to three months a year.

These property owners are leaving their vacation homes early and therefore won’t be able to vote on the school levy. I can see why they would be upset about being taxed for property they only use in the summer or ski season. I don’t know if these part-time residents do or do not support our schools but they must enjoy something in this area.

I see letters written by citizens who do not support the levy. Many of those letters are filled with misinformation, some are out-and-out lies. These letters are from people who do not support public education no matter what the cost, their information needs to be ignored.

If you have valid reasons for not supporting the levy, fine, but do not listen to these manipulations and distortions by people with an agenda, that is not supported by fact A quality education is something we can provide to our children, which, in turn, helps our community, which, in turn, helps the world. Food for thought and food for a child’s stomach does not make a child believe the world owes them anything but a chance.

Levy? Yes/no.

GEORGE THORNTON

Clark Fork