Levy is too costly for retired residents

There are 793 properties for sale in Sandpoint, Hope and Sagle and the total price for all these properties is $394,194,886.

Most of these properties have been on the market for more than a year and are over-assessed since Bonner County did not acknowledge five consecutive years of sliding values due to the housing recession from 2007 to 2012. Kootenai County reduced its assessed property value $5,776,000,000 during this five-year period in a transparent manner.

Our over-assessed property keeps our property taxes much higher than they should be. The U.S. Census indicates both Bonner County and Sandpoint have decreased in population since 2008. Wages in Sandpoint have decreased 14 percent and now LPOSD wants to increase our tax burden by 15.5 percent compared to the levy in 2011.

Retired residents can’t afford live here anymore. Vote “no” on the levy March 12.

LESLIE SANGUINETTI

Sagle