KC: Advisory ballot vote question

Kootenai County voters will see an advisory question on the November ballot concerning the future of public transit. Before marking Yes or No, voters deserve to understand exactly what they are being asked.

An advisory vote is just that — advisory. It gives county commissioners an indication of public opinion, but it does not itself require a particular change in how transit is operated.

That distinction matters because the wording can leave voters with questions. City residents are also county taxpayers, and the issue is not simply whether public transportation should exist. An important question is who should administer and help fund the system in the future — Kootenai County, the participating cities through some cooperative arrangement, or another structure.

A “yes” or “no” answer cannot explain all of those possibilities.

Whatever one’s opinion of public transit, voters should understand what each answer means and what it does not mean. County officials should clearly explain before Election Day what actions they would consider following either result.

I encourage voters who have questions to contact the Board of County Commissioners and, when possible, raise those questions during a public meeting. A public discussion gives commissioners an opportunity to clarify the question where everyone can hear the same explanation.

An advisory vote works best when the public understands the choices before voting.

TOM SANNER

Coeur d’Alene