TAXES: Do you know where they go?

PROPERTY OWNERS and your Property Taxes - Have you actually looked at your property tax statement? Look at where a huge chunk of your tax dollars go.

The value of property has decreased over the years as has the economy, however, the amount of tax property owners pay for the Lakeland School District has doubled and now they want more. For a property valued by the County at less than $300,000, and a total tax bill of $2,700, just under $1,000 of that tax bill already goes to three school levy bonds.

On March 13, 2012, Lakeland School District will be asking the voters to vote for additional money paid by you, the property owners. The two bonds are posted on the Kootenai County Elections webpage, "Sample Official Ballot." In short, they are to "Empower the Board of Trustees of Lakeland Joint School District No. 272 Kootenai and Bonner Counties to Levy a Plant Facility Levy" ($905,000 each year for 10 years, in part to improve schools and repay loans from commercial lending companies that they have to pay back); the other to "Levy a Supplemental Levy" ($9,900,000 for a two-year Levy to operate the schools of the District for fiscal years July 1, 2012 and ending June 30, 2014).

What are they doing and what have they done with the funds already being collected on our tax bills? For me, a homeowner, a big "NO" vote is in order. I am done paying for the millions that the schools squander away. We all realize that we need to support our school system and educate our children, however, the school district appears asking for a blank check from the property owners as we are the ones footing the bill whether or not we have children or grandchildren attending those schools. It is time that these districts, like this country learn how to manage their money. Please get out and vote, a NO vote will send the message to manage what you already get. It only takes a small margin to pass the Levy. As a property owner let your vote count.

TOM and STEPHANIE GOSSARD

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