SCHOOL LEVY: Invest in kids by voting yes

In 10 days, voters in our community will go to the polls to cast a crucial vote to support public education. The Coeur d’Alene School District’s safety and maintenance levy is on the ballot Aug. 30. The proposed levy provides desperately needed funds for maintenance priorities in our schools.

The levy fills the gap the state of Idaho fails to fund. Idaho mandates local school districts use a voter-approved levy system. Funded by property taxes, Idaho communities are required to run a school district levy when needing to provide funds to their schools the state doesn’t support. If the Aug. 30 levy fails, our schools have zero funding for essential safety, health and maintenance.

According to a report by the Long Range Planning citizens group, our school community has 40 buildings with an average age of 33 years old. These facilities have health, safety and maintenance issues requiring immediate attention. The list of overdue upgrades include enhanced security, replacing roofs and flooring, repairing parking lots and sidewalks and replacing HVACs.

A Yes vote is the best investment our community can make in our kids. The overall tax rate for Coeur d’Alene schools has dropped 34% since 2016. Our school district has one of the lowest school tax rates in Idaho and the rate is projected to decline again in 2023, even with passage of this levy. Approving the levy is vital for a safe and healthy public education system. Send our kids back to school with a Yes vote!

NANCY S. HART

Hayden