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“The levy is for the kids.” That’s all right, but the levy cannot harm the family unit that is the foundation for that kid. Most families got a property tax bill last month, and many showed a tax increase. The LPOSD serves an economic area where the average yearly income is approximately $34,000. Any increase in costs or taxes does damage to these families’ marginal disposable income. The school district’s administration needs to understand the socioeconomic area they serve and develop their budget strategies accordingly.

An interesting fact is that it now costs more to educate one student for one school year in the Lake Pend Oreille School District than for a college student at the University of Idaho. The Idaho Department of Education’s most recent published data for annual expenditure per student (2016-2017) reports that it costs you $10,212 per year in the LPOSD. Collegedata.com state the University of Idaho charges $8,778 per student for annual tuition, fees, and books.

LPOSD Superintendent Shawn Woodward wants this year’s levy increased by 49 percent to $25.4 million. Woodward says 84 percent of the levy is for salaries. Superintendent Woodward makes $173,910 plus many thousands in bonuses and stipends a year. His salary tops not only the Idaho governor’s but that of 42 other governors across the country. His chief financial officer makes $144,444 a year. Three other administrators also top the $100,000 level.

If the levy is for the kids, can the voters afford to pay these kinds of school administrative salaries?

Vote no on this levy.

JACK CAMPBELL

Hope