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The proposed Lake Pend Oreille School District’s $55-plus million levy to be voted on Aug. 30 is sadly lacking in thorough research.

This proposed facilities levy is asking for all facilities to be done at once, from what’s been presented. Has anyone thought about cost overrides potentially coming into play? Anyone else recall the Bonner County Courthouse debacle that had cost overrides between $1 and $5 million because due diligence wasn’t done prior to the initially proposed remodel and asbestos was discovered in the courthouse, once the remodel began?

A more logical and correct approach to remodeling or replacing existing school facilities, would be to do one at a time, and only ask for a levy to cover that one school that is proposed to be done first. For example, if that one school had a levy for $10 million, and after the remodel was started that school was found to have not only deficient wiring and plumbing, but also had asbestos discovered in the walls, beneath the floors, in the ceiling or wherever, then there would probably be a request for additional funds, cost override, to complete that school properly.

With a declining student population, it’s time to approach the one school at a time concept, and reevaluate the results of the final budget and real costs after it’s completed. Burdening taxpayers with a “let’s do it all at once” concept, is not realistic or acceptable.

Vote “no” on the $55-plus million school levy on Aug. 30.

MICHAEL HARMELIN

Sandpoint