SCHOOL FUNDING: There must be a better way

The recent school levies have passed in some districts and failed in others. Funding the school districts needs in this method is a reoccurring pain in the neck.

Proposed new options are extending the levy time frame from the present two years to six years or beyond, does not address what I see as two of the real root problems of this issue.

First, the state should fund the entire school budgets, not 75%.

Second, the remaining 25% of the funding should not rest on property owners only.

While the iron is hot, now is the time to ask our legislators to get rid of this clumsy and unpopular mechanism of funding the schools.

I would propose an increase in our sales tax to make up for the additional funds needed. That way, everyone can participate. With the recent information that tourism is our third biggest industry, much of those funds would be generated by out of state/out of country visitors paying a share.

Whatever percentage increase that would be needed, would be dedicated to schools. I think this approach would be much more popular than the complicated, dollar rate per thousand of property value, that is currently used.

I am a longtime resident of Coeur d’Alene (1960s), I graduated from Coeur d’Alene HS, my two girls went to area schools, I support our local schools, but I always was frustrated with this “fricken” levy system.

A major change is needed!

RICHARD GERHARD

Coeur d’Alene