LEVY: How to effect change

Idaho’s constitution states “It shall be the duty of the legislature of Idaho to establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools.”

It is not the duty of the taxpayer to fund schools. This responsibility falls on our elected legislators. Just as Medicaid expansion passed because of six years of inaction by our legislators, so should this levy fail due to years of inaction to obtain state funding.

Many improvements can be made to help fund our schools. A letter to the editor on Feb. 1 by Monte Hillman makes a valid point when saying that limiting Idaho’s public school districts to one per county could save millions of dollars for Idaho taxpayers and more money to teachers.

As of 2016, PEW reports there are 35,000 illegal immigrants in Idaho, 5.7 percent which consist of K-12 students. Idaho spends approximately $188 million annually on illegal immigration at taxpayer expense.

Nowhere in Resolution 18-19-003 Supplemental Levy Election does it include language for putting the burden on new construction as Mr. Cook’s online survey suggests.

Voting should not be held at our local schools. This is giving school officials and parents of school children an advantage over other voters. Therefore, if you want to put this taxpayer burden back where it belongs (Legislature) you need to get out and vote NO. It’s surprising how we voted NO three times on the jail expansion and suddenly the money appeared!

JoANN LOKKEN

Coeur d’Alene