TAXES: Homeowner silence

I am dumbfounded by the silence of homeowners after receiving tax statements. Social media was ablaze but nothing in The Press. Not only have our taxes gone up by approximately $1,000, but the statement was totally incorrect.

We were told before the voting for school bonds the increase would hardly be noticed, seriously! (One bond increased more than $400.) Then a unilateral decision to add an additional bond because of more students, no vote.

Anyone take into account there are many more homeowners in the area who are paying taxes? Where is all this money going? Obviously not to education as Idaho is one of the lowest rated in the nation. Our tax for the schools is more than $1,700; that’s more than I make in a month.

Being a senior on a limited income in Kootenai County is taxing us right out of homeownership, something we have worked hard for all our lives. Seniors on a limited income should be exempt from school taxes! We have paid these taxes for years. We have no children or grandchildren in the system, and why are we paying for North Idaho College? Why are non-homeowners not contributing to schools when their kids attend? Time for a total accounting of where all these funds are and how they are being used and who gets tagged for the cost.

STEPHANIE GOSSARD

Athol