EDUCATION COSTS: Check your Assessment Notice

Neighbors, I urge you to look closely at the Assessment Notice sent to you by Kootenai County. Listed at the bottom of the page you will find every taxing district that serves you. Note that each entity is listed only once EXCEPT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 271 which at present has three separate tax levies. Presently, we are taxed for school “bond," “other," and “Supp” (supplemental). If I add the North Idaho College levy to the Coeur d’Alene School District levies, education makes up 50% of my tax bill! And now District No. 271 is asking for another, a fourth, levy item? I think not!

We senior citizens especially are adversely affected by these school district taxes. If the government will not exempt those 70 years and older from the monstrously high total of these three (soon perhaps four) District No. 271 levies, the levies must be limited, and the district must find ways to economize like the rest of us.

Please remember, the entire time we were wage earners, seniors paid for public education. Now with most of us on fixed incomes in a time of mounting expenses, we are expected to pay more and more for schools. I believe by age 70, we have contributed enough. Help us get off the education funding “gerbil wheel” by voting NO on this fourth school district levy on August 30.

GEORGE FORD

Coeur d’Alene