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Lake Pend Oreille School District Shawn Woodward and his compadres on the school board are doing it again: trying to foist another high-dollar levy on us.

The mood of the public is still deeply cynical after their attempt last August to saddle us with a sham plant facilities levy in a rigged process of secret insider committees, laughable justifications, “expert” reports, and a weird financing scheme. Can we be blamed for being doubtful of any data and reasons cited for this upcoming $17 million supplemental levy, which is $1.3 million higher than the levy it replaces at a time when enrollment is stagnant or declining? It’s being sold to us as a mere 50 cents per month more for a home worth $250,000.

In years past, these levy increases were soothingly parlayed as just the equivalent of a few cups of Starbucks a month. Lots of people took exception to that elitist attitude because, unlike school district employees, their income doesn’t allow paying that much for a cup of coffee. So LPOSD isn’t talking about Starbucks anymore, just about little tiny 50-cent increases.

LPOSD also never mentions how much these purportedly small increases have driven up supplemental levies since 2000, when it was $1,260,000. Idaho Department of Education data shows a consistent leap, more accelerated in recent years, so in FY 2019 you will be paying $8,700,000. That’s a 590-percent increase. Question: Have you been able to increase your spending by 590 percent since 2000?

It’s time to make LPOSD live within its means. Vote no on March 14.

LINDA BROWNING

Sandpoint