Fear of deeper recession driving residents' actions

In an earlier letter, I said the Lake Pend Oreille District made a mistake in asking for more than the existing levy, that cuts should be made. Now I’ve learned cuts will be made even if the levy passes, so I do think an attempt has been made to adapt to the current financial situation.

However, I think many people are fearful of what may happen later this year and next with this precarious economy. The same federal legislators who got us into this fix are now supposedly getting us out of it, by going deeper into debt, which means we should beware. We may go deeper into recession, we may have to pay the debt with higher and more taxes, or we may be hit with high inflation — all of which will affect us locally. No one thinks a recovery is going to be quick, if that happens.

The reality is voters have some control over their local taxes. Exercising that control may help ease their fears of the future, while hoping the district can think out of the box  by coming up with a way to teach students the skills necessary to advance to workplace or college, should the levy fail.

DEANNA M. JAMES

Sagle