SCHOOLS: Reasons to reject bond

This is in response to the article of April 3, 2012, on the bond issue coming before the voters.

The technology you want will be outdated, by your own admission, before the bond is paid off. Hazel Bauman compared this with the purchase of a home — appliances don’t last the length of a mortgage, however the homeowner pays for replacements not the whole neighborhood!

Five million dollars will be set aside until you determine financial feasibility for upgrades at Winton Elementary. If you don’t know if it is feasible, why are you asking for the funds now? Shouldn’t feasibility studies be done BEFORE you ask for money?

Does anyone else find it unfair that the only individuals who pay for these bond issues are property owners? I know that’s the way things have been done for many, many years, but it is becoming more and more unfair! Naturally, voters who don’t own property have no problem raising the taxes of those who do. Why should non-property owners have the right to raise the taxes of property owners? Those who are benefiting should be the ones to pay.

Two options:

1. Institute a school tax that is paid by the families of all students.

2. Institute a city/county sales tax specifically for items not covered in a school’s budget.

Schools, like most of us, should be required to live within their budgets. It probably wouldn’t hurt to have someone who has no axe to grind to be allowed to go over every school’s budget, their income and definitely their expenses. There is no doubt in my mind that extra funds would be found.

If a school’s budget doesn’t include funds for infrastructure repairs and improvements why hasn’t some type of impound account been established for just this purpose? If funds were impounded every year, when repairs and improvements were needed, the funds would be there.

The powers that be know that schools wear out — but they don’t plan for it? Doesn’t sound like a good way to do business. But I forgot, just pass another bond and make a few pay for the many!

Property owners, it is time you let your voice be heard, VOTE NO ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND ISSUE!

LAGONDA McDONALD

Coeur d’Alene