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The school levy, taxes, and funding education |
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February 17, 2015 |
February 16, 2015
To the Editor:
I wish there were another way, besides levies,
to pay for our public education in Boundary
County. I’ve only lived in Idaho for 1 ½ years.
Levies for school funding are new to me. Taxes
are not. I’ve always paid for public education
through property taxes; I’ve just never had a
choice before.
We still pay taxes for schools on a home we own
in Texas. Our children will never attend school
there, we are not part of that community; yet, I
have never been asked if I want to pay taxes to
support Texas schools. We pay those because we
took the responsibility of being homeowners and
taxes are part of that responsibility.
Here in Idaho, our state has decided that
they’re not going to fully fund education with
state revenues. They lowered property taxes and
took funding from schools, which put the burden
of fully funding schools on communities. In
other words, now we have a choice.
Honestly, I wish I had more of a say in how my
taxes were spent and assessed. It would be great
if we could utilize sales taxes to help fund
schools, but right now, the legislator hasn’t
given us that option. So, the responsibility and
burden stays with property owners. It may not be
a choice we like having, but it is ours to make.
The question is; will we make the right choice?
Will we, when not forced, still provide the
funding our schools need? Will we show that we
value our children, community and future?
Niki Weaver
Bonners Ferry
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