PROPERTY TAXES: Taxation without representation

Home ownership is impossible in Idaho. The county bureaucrats get to decide when they can confiscate any real property for not paying property tax. Kootenai County starts that process only after a would-be homeowner is behind in tax payments. As democrats complain about affordability, they ensure homeowners are not homeowners and would-be homeowners are a minority.

Idaho leads the nation in personal individual freedom. Let’s make sure that continues by abolishing property taxes on would-be homeowners. The teachers’ unions know only property owners are in their way to larger budgets. They try, and try, and try, with special elections if needed, until they get the increase in property tax they demand. Having a built-in majority is why the teachers’ unions get their way. Sales tax spreads the cost among everyone when they buy anything. Imagine the feedback the schools would receive about their accomplishments if everyone is paying their bills instead of a selected minority. That might demonstrate epresentative democracy.

Cd’A is not Chicago and we do have some excellent teachers and administrators. Combining that with some reform that has been legislated, I’d say Idaho K-12 still has much improvement to do in public education and especially with improvement of funding and spending mechanisms.

And yes, even with falling enrollment, local schools must have more money for something, for anything, all demanded by the teachers’ unions, not student unions.

Kootenai County already has a method of imposing property tax across taxing districts; all they would have to do is change the source and calculate the required sales tax. Simple and fair, unlike dependence of government bureaucrats on property tax.

DON THOMPSON

Coeur d’Alene