LEVIES: Control costs, vote no

On March 9, there will be a levy election. Everyone needs to vote.

Some years back our schools were funded completely by property taxes. Later, the state government took over the funding so there was no charge to property taxes. But in time, some schools felt they needed more money, so they devised levy elections.

Since most of the levy funds go to fund teacher salaries, voting more money in a levy election enables a school district to pay teachers more than they could make in other professions, with similar training.

The Coeur d’Alene School District is asking for $20 million for two years.

The Lakeland School District is asking for $9.5 million for two years.

The Post Falls School District is asking for $5 million for two years.

The job our school districts are doing is not as good as it was many years ago. Someone has asked the question “Is this a time to reward failing education?”

Why do mothers with little or no college and who teach their own children at home often do a better job than the public schools? Many of the spelling contests are won by home school children.

We cannot control most of what our government spends money on. But, we can control what we spend on schools. Now is the time to vote no on these levy elections. Remember that this money is not for better buses, or pencils and paper, but for higher teacher salaries.

When I was interviewed by the teacher’s union when I ran for office, everything they wanted me to approve cost more money. But it is time to spend less and expect more. It is the least we can do.

Here schools have pretty much had a blank check. It is time for them to learn to live like the rest of us. Schools will beg for passage of the levies. Please vote no for the levies.

JIM HOLLINGSWORTH

Hayden