Initiative promises more than it delivers

I read with interest that our county commissioners all signed the 1 Percent Initiative petition. I assume they have read all 31 pages and realize that this initiative does away with the homeowner's exemption and the exemption for non-profit groups that provide low income housing, along with making it a felony (punishable up to five years in prison) for not to reporting to the county any building you do on your home.

I doubt that there is a property owner in Bonner County that has not been amazed at the skyrocketing value of their property, and most would agree that we need to restructure the way we finance the services we want.

This initiative proposes making sweeping changes to Idaho Code, many of which are so involved that unless you sit down and compare the changes proposed with Idaho Code as it is now, you would have no idea of what you're signing. If you want to limit funding for schools, the library, the hospital, the fire districts, water and sewer districts, etc., I encourage you to sign this petition. The old adage of "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" is certainly true of the 1 Percent Initiative.

If we could have more services provided for the burgeoning population of Bonner County and pay less money, let's do it.

SUSAN OTIS

Sandpoint