Give up extras before asking for more money

The letters concerning the jail levy presented both sides of the  debate, flaws and all. The pro-view seemed to parrot the official line, down to where to vote, keeping kids at home, school, visitation, etc. The con side said no, almost no matter what. Here is a middle-of-the-road view.

A new facility may indeed be needed, but the current sheriff  spoke out against it during his campaign last fall.

There is talk of state mandates, but do the nearly 500 kids entering the system every year really need to go to jail?  Is it necessary to lock up a  kid who skipped school for a week? (Yes, I heard about that).

If there are a dozen kids per day average, why do we need a capacity of nearly three times that?  Renting out beds to other counties?  Seems they want us to foot the bill for what is now a money making business as opposed to a necessary evil.

On the pro-side, design a bare bones facility for perhaps a capacity of 15 to 20 that can be added onto if and when necessary. Don’t spend almost half the levy for an architectural design. I’m sure there are off-the-shelf plans around somewhere. Bring it in for half the current requested amount with a one year bond we might be able to support.

Bottom line, many have given up the little extras because of all the other add-ons we’re now taxed for.  Each taxing entity seems to think they exist in a bubble. We’ve gone from giving up  a coffee or a pizza, to maybe sacrificing a few meals a week or a new pair of shoes for their kids  to pay for these multiple levies.

LAWRENCE FURY

Sandpoint