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Open letter to Shawn Woodward and Shawn Keough:

As you know, in August 2016, the Lake Pend Oreille School District held a $55-million plant facilities levy election to fund the failing infrastructure of the school district. The levy failed.

The LPOSD is now planning another supplemental school levy of almost $8 million on March 14, 2017, looking to make it permanent. This levy is in addition to the previous $55 million needed by the school district for buildings. Where is the money going to come from?

I am not anti-school children, anti-teachers, or anti-public schools. What I am, as noted in my letter in September, is “anti” the Idaho Legislature changing the Idaho Lottery permanent building funding formula in 2009, sweeping it under the rug, and not explaining it to citizens. What I am “anti” is state legislatures raiding funds initially meant for schools and shifting the burden to property owners through higher taxes, bonds and levies.

Why should property owners shoulder the burden to adequately fund Idaho schools? Sadly, 82 percent of Idaho school districts operate on supplemental levies. There’s got to be a better way.

Once again, I urge voters to lobby their legislators to restore the lottery funds to school facilities and return the funds they’ve raided since 2009. In addition, legislators need figure out how to increase overall school funding so property owners are not continually on the hook for school funding. After all, that’s what we elect and pay them for.

MAUREEN TILLBERG

Sandpoint