Vote 'yes,' Post Falls

Leadership of the Post Falls School District had a goal.

The objective: Supplement declining state funding to maintain quality education without hitting taxpayers too hard.

We believe the school board and administrators hit something, but it wasn't the taxpayers. It was the bull's-eye.

That's why we're encouraging voters in the Post Falls School District to support a two-year levy request for $2.615 million a year.

What that means to the owner of an average home - valued at about $184,000 - is a property tax increase of roughly $1 a month, or $12 a year. The school board had hoped to keep intact a long string of successful levy passages that did not effect an overall tax increase. That simply can't be done this year unless district patrons want to see employees laid off, maintenance backed off and programs, curriculum and technology suffer.

Since the recession began, Post Falls School District has not added positions or increased salaries. We have long lauded Superintendent Jerry Keane and the school board for their fiscal practices. Like the City of Post Falls itself, standard operating procedure is to live within one's means. In the case of Tuesday's vote on the supplemental levy, it is the quality of educational life that now is at stake.

We're acutely aware that for many in Kootenai County, the recession really isn't over. Many workers still can't find jobs. Many others have suffered pay cuts and dramatically reduced benefits while working harder than ever. For those who are unable to adequately feed and clothe their family or buy gas to get to and from work, we empathize. And we respect their right not to support the Post Falls or Coeur d'Alene levies.

But for everyone else, we believe our schools need our support more than ever.

We hope you'll join us in voting "yes" for the Post Falls School District supplemental levy on Tuesday.