SCHOOL LEVY: August elections are a problem

It’s summer, and many folks are on vacation, traveling, camping, or “at the lake.” The last thing on their minds is a levy vote. August elections are often seen as a way to slip in a new tax at a time of low voter attention. This election date has been on the chopping block at the legislature many times recently, but each time the Teacher’s Union pushes hard to keep it on the books. They are surprisingly powerful in Idaho.

I am a supporter of education, school safety and teachers. I have served for eight years in the State Senate, including the Education committee, the Budget committee and the Tax committee, so I have some opinions about this election. Here are three points for you to consider on this August school levy:

The cost of this levy will be paid by local taxpayers through additional Property Taxes, every year for 10 years.

School safety is important, and that’s why we passed a bill several years ago to fund school security improvements. We also added flexible funding in the Education budget so each school district could use the extra money as needed. Did they use it for safety?

March, May and November all have dates available for elections. We should respect the voters and remove August as a choice on the election calendar!

Please go vote on Aug. 30. Not voting will leave the decision to a very few.

MARY SOUZA

Coeur d’Alene