Cd'A schools: One yes, one no

The Coeur d'Alene School District has responded admirably to tremendous budget challenges.

The district has confronted reduced revenue by cutting almost $9 million from general fund expenditures over the past two years. Gone are more than 25 full-time certified positions. Another $1.2 million was slashed from employee compensation and benefits. More than $1 million was cut from maintenance and custodial services. The cuts have left gaps in 23 budgeting categories. They're not just visible; they can be felt - and not just by district employees and administrators, either. The impact of deep cuts ripples through the community.

We empathize with district leadership in trying to figure out how to deal with even greater cuts at the state and federal levels today. However, we cannot support the district's two-pronged request that would generate almost $26 million in additional property taxes over the next two years. Somewhere, taxpayers must run up the white flag. We believe that time is now.

Two untenable trends are leading toward a disastrous outcome. The private sector is replete with individuals whose income and benefits have declined dramatically since the recession began, while many others have lost their jobs altogether. As the cost of municipal services increase across the board, as gasoline prices rise toward $4 a gallon and grocery costs escalate through higher prices, less content or both, many Coeur d'Alene district patrons find themselves desperately trying to get by. A property tax increase of even $60 or $70 a year is a mountain that some barely subsisting citizens cannot conquer.

Then there's the bigger property tax picture. If you aren't alarmed by the fact that property values all over Kootenai County are plummeting, you darned well should be that at the same time, your property taxes are constantly increasing. Think for a moment: Despite the recession, who on your property tax bill is taking less than they were a few years ago? Or even last year?

Taxpayers cannot allow this to continue, no matter how much they wish to support local causes. These roads ultimately lead to financial ruin, for the individual and for the taxing entities. Local real estate experts and bankers are predicting even more foreclosures in Kootenai County this year than last, and many businesses are buckling at the knees under the ever-increasing weight of their tax burdens.

That's why despite our earnest desire to support our public schools any way we can, we are recommending a "yes" vote on the first part of Coeur d'Alene's levy request and a "no" vote on the second. Approving the existing levy amount of $7.8 million a year for two years will not spare the district further belt-tightening, but it will avoid devastating impacts. Next year taxpayers will actually see a little relief as Lake City High School and the new technical campus come off the tax rolls.

We are among Coeur d'Alene School District's most ardent fans. Do you realize that even if both levies do pass on Tuesday, Coeur d'Alene will still have the lowest levy rate among the state's 13 largest districts? And yet it outscores every other big district in the state in testing for math and reading. Stated simply, you're paying the least for the best.

The problem is, many of you can't pay more.

Let's provide the district the same tax support we've given the past two years and find other ways to help ensure continued excellence in education.