Earning an 'F' for school taxes
After reading the letter from Mrs. Grossard from Athol in regards to school taxes, my wife and I are in the same boat. We are in the process of selling our home, not because we want to, but we can’t afford to live in Coeur d’Alene with the tax increases on a fixed income.
The new increase in school taxes nullifies the tax circuit breaker that the county offers. So even though our Social Security income hasn’t increased, the school taxes now exceed the wonderful circuit breaker discount for those over 65 years of age. Would it be better for us to find an RV park or inquire into federal Section 8 rental housing to fit our income? Even though we have been here 25 years, the tax increases continue to climb; we don’t like this thought of having to move because of taxes.
Our taxes changed from $1,471 to more than $3,000 by annexing into the city. How’s that for a special deal? No, we don’t have children or grandchildren in school, but the school tax increases are over half of our tax bill.
I sure hope we can hire more people and buy more equipment to increase the civil servants and their costs to even that out. We are all thankful for police, fire and other city services that make our community safe, but we older people have done our fair share of school taxes. Let the families and renters with children pay for the education. Most of us old timers want to know what happened to Physical Education, Home Economics and Wood and Metal Shop classes. We aren’t creating a work force in America, and not everyone is going to be able to be on a Smartphone or a computer.
Will any of these kids know how to work, cook a meal or do something with their hands? There’s too much cell phone use, technology and too much political correctness with regards to diversity and the GLBTQ. If we don’t agree with what they are teaching our kids and grandkids, why should we be held hostage for the cost?
As you look at American lifestyle, people are spending more than they make. We aren’t like the federal government; so if you can’t afford it maybe you shouldn’t buy it. And the same goes for the government agencies that are oh so good at raising our taxes. For those who don’t know it, we should be considering draining the swamp in our own agencies. And we should see where and how these tax dollars are spent that we are so willing to pay.
- • •
Scott Stephens is a Coeur d’Alene resident — for now.