North Idaho voters are in an all-out no vote revolt right now.

The defeat of Coeur d'Alene School District's proposed $40 million facilities levy was the third consecutive loss on a property tax-based proposal in North Idaho.

? Last Nov. 8, Kootenai County voters rejected a $50 million jail expansion.

? On Feb. 7, Lake Pend Oreille School District voters crushed a proposed recreation district and $12 million sports complex.

In that election, 88 percent of voters said "no."

? On Tuesday, District 271 suffered its first levy or bond defeat in more than a decade. This one generated a 45 percent "yes" vote, down from 82 percent just four years ago.

What's going on?

People don't very often get a chance to vote their wallets.

So unless they see a proposal worth a higher tax bill on top of their escalating property taxes, of course they are going to vote no.

There are many issues on the horizon in Bonner County that will need taxpayer support.

We can predict with certainty those will also go down unless our governmental agencies show fiscal restraint, the state government begins to actually fund education and the citizens are convinced there is a need to further tax themselves..

We urge county and city governments to begin fashioning their next fiscal year's budgets based strictly on the current year's spending.

Doing otherwise won't just lead to future political carnage; it will doom future requests for school and community improvements.

And if you know anyone in Boise or Washington, DC … pass the word.

No will continue to mean no until citizens are convinced their tax dollars are being spent wisely.